By Pete Martin and all images by Michael Berkeley.
Salisbury returned from the short trip to Dorchester Town empty-handed as they fell to defeat by 1 goal to nil. Brian Dutton made 5 changes to his side including a return from injury for Aaron McCreadie and Alex Rutter replacing Harry Lee in goal.
It was the home side who started brighter and saw most of the ball in the early stages. The Whites were forced into an early change when Levi Irving was forced off with an injury, Tom Leggett the man coming on to replace him. Dorchester were the first to draw a save from either keeper, Shaquille Gwengwe outmuscling Jack Ball but striking his effort at Rutter. The home side were still looking more likely; Salisbury unable to get hold of the ball and they were grateful for some wasteful finishing from Dorchester, Jordan Ngalo striking over the top on 19 minutes. The first sight of goal for the Whites on 24 minutes saw a Charlie Gunson freekick deflected straight at home keeper Jameson Horlick before a minute later Dorchester took the lead. The Magpies broke away quickly down their left-hand side and the ball was flicked goalwards by Olaf Koszela via the post with Gwengwe possibly getting a touch.
Salisbury reacted well to going behind, a flowing move ended with Gunson’s low shot pushed away by Horlick before being scrambled clear and then on 38 minutes Josh Hedges shooting over the top after a good run. The White’s best chance of the half came after 42 minutes, Gunson and Dan Fitchett combining to play in Noah Coppin only for the young winger to see his effort superbly pushed wide by Horlick and the sides went in at half time with the home side a goal to the good.
The 2nd half saw Salisbury start much brighter, switching to a back 3 and seeing plenty of the ball. On 48 minutes a dangerous ball in from Hedges saw an awkward bounce scrambled away by Horlick, before at the other end Marcus Daws put a shot straight at Rutter after cutting in from the left hand side. With the home side sitting deeper and deeper the onus was on the Whites to break them down and they nearly succeeded on 64 minutes when a driving run from Aaron Simpson saw him exchange passes with Hedges before his shot was blocked, the rebound falling nicely for Jamar Smith only for the full back to shoot straight at Horlick.
5 minutes later Salisbury came even closer; a short corner routine saw Simpson whip the ball to the back post where Fitchett returned it to the danger area but Sido Jomabati could only smash it against the bar under heavy pressure. On 74 minutes Dorchester could have doubled their lead, a quick break saw the ball come across to substitute Will Fletcher but his 1st time shot was smothered by Rutter at the near post. As the game ticked towards full time the Whites continued to pressure in an attempt to find a way back into the game. On 87 minutes the ball was worked into Fitchett in the box but Dorchester were quick to close him down and the ball was scrambled behind for a corner. Into injury time and a Salisbury shout for a penalty was turned down, the referee deciding that Jack Ball had not been elbowed in the box despite requiring treatment and a frustrating afternoon for the Whites saw them unable to break down an organised Dorchester side meaning they dropped to 3rd place in the league.
Salisbury are back in action next Saturday, on the road again this time heading to North Wiltshire to take on Swindon Supermarine in a 3 pm kick-off.
Team: Rutter, Simpson, Smith(Robinson), Jombati, Ball, McCreadie(Dore), Gunson, Hedges, Coppin, Irving(Leggett), Fitchett Unused Subs: Perez, Sommerton
