By Pete Martin
Salisbury were unable to make it back-to-back away wins as they were thumped 6-1 on their first-ever visit to high-flying Bracknell Town. Brian Dutton made 2 changes to his starting lineup from Saturday’s win at Met Police; Calvin Brooks coming back in for Lucas Tomlinson and Seung Yang replacing the injured Thomas McDermott.
It was the Whites who started the brighter; seeing plenty of the ball and winning a couple of early corners which they were unable to capitalise on. Bracknell’s 1st real foray forward came on 11 minutes and, in a pattern soon to be repeated, it saw them open the scoring. A long ball out from defence by Ashley Lodge was allowed to bounce by the Salisbury defence and Joe Grant was alert to nip in and collect the ball before placing a low shot across Gerard Benfield and into the bottom corner. Salisbury continued to see plenty of the ball without creating much, a Devon Arnold blocked shot being the closest they came, before on 20 minutes the home side doubled their lead.
The ball was moved quickly across to Mickel Platt on the right-hand side and a couple of quick touches took him away from his defender and into the box before he fired the ball home into the back of the net. Just 5 minutes later it was 3; Magnus Abisogun tapping in at the near post following a fine ball in from full-back Liam Tack. A shellshocked Salisbury were unable to react, Michael Eacott in the Bracknell goal having very little to do, with the Whites unable to turn possession into any meaningful play in the final third. 5 minutes before half time Bracknell made it 4 with captain Dan Bayliss getting in on the act. A quick break saw the ball worked across to Max Herbert, whose shot was blocked wide for a corner. The ball was swung deep into the Salisbury box and was met on the half-volley by the unmarked skipper at the back post to send the home side in 4 goals to the good.
The start of the 2nd half saw the Whites again have a decent amount of possession and again fail to trouble Eacott. The closest they came saw James Plant shot high over the bar on 50 minutes before Bracknell added a 5th on the hour mark. A freekick from outside the box was smashed goalwards by Darryl Sanders and, although Benfield got down well to keep out the initial strike, Grant was quickest to react and nod the ball into the net for his 2nd goal of the evening. It took Salisbury going 5 goals down for them to have their best spell of the evening and on 68 minutes Eacott was finally called into action when he got a strong hand behind a fiercely struck shot from Arnold after a good move involving Plant and Aaron McCreadie. 2 minutes later the Whites pulled a goal back; Plant on hand to slide the ball home at the back post after a good run and low cross down the right by Arnold. On 73 minutes they could have added a 2nd but firstly substitute Brandon Goodship’s cross/shot bounced off the post before being bundled behind, and then from the subsequent corner Eacott made a fine low save from a powerfully struck volley from Brooks around 10 yards out. That proved to be it for Salisbury and with 8 minutes remaining Bracknell made it 6 as Grant was able to outmuscle the defence and slot the ball home to complete his hat-trick and send the Whites home thoroughly defeated.
Salisbury will look to bounce back this coming Saturday 11th March when they travel to Gosport Borough for the 3rd of 3 consecutive away games.
Team: Benfield, Brooks C, Sommerton, Roberts, Ogundega, McCreadie, Yang(Fernandes), Bosma, Plant, Arnold(Tomlinson), Fitchett(Goodship)
Unused Subs: Kherbouce, Roocroft.
