By Pete Martin – Cover image by Michael Berkeley
Salisbury’s winning run extended to 7 games as they saw off Dorchester Town 3-2 at the Ray Mac Stadium. Following impressive cameos from the bench in last week’s win at Hanwell Town, new signings Wayne Robinson and Harry Williams were rewarded with starting berths; Noah Coppin and Dan Fitchett the players dropping to the bench.
The opening 25 minutes of the game saw very little in terms of penalty box action at either end of the pitch; the visitors having more of the ball but neither keeper called into action at any point. The first incident of note came just after 25 minutes and saw Salisbury’s Tom Bragg appear to jar his knee as he went for the ball, the centre half subsequently stretchered off following a period of treatment in the centre circle. Just after the half hour mark Dorchester tested Whites keeper Josh Gould for the first time, Shaquille Gwengwe tamely heading straight at him. Just a minute later Gould was again called into action, this time showing strong hands to push away a powerful header from Pedro Borges coming in at the back post.
Images by Roger Elliott
On 37 minutes the game’s opening goal arrived and it was the visitors who took a deserved lead. A slip from centre half Sido Jomabti saw Borges able to feed the ball through to Will Fletcher and the frontman showed good composure to slot the ball beyond Gould and into the back of the net. 3 minutes later it could have been 2 but a fantastic last-gasp tackle prevented Olaf Koszela from tapping the ball home after his initial shot had been saved by Gould. In time added on at the end of the half Salisbury had their first sight of goal; a volley from Josh Sommerton going high and wide and Dorchester went in at half time a goal to the good.
The 2nd half saw the Whites come out fired up and it took them just 5 minutes to level the game up. A corner from the right was swung in by Charlie Gunson and Jombati rose highest to nod the ball beyond Adam Forster in the Dorchester goal. Whatever had been said at half time clearly had an effect on the Salisbury team as they started to move the ball around nicely and cause problems for the Magpie’s defence.
On 61 minutes a good move involving Aaron McCreadie and half time substitute Fitchett saw Josh Hedges in on goal from the right hand side, Forster getting enough behind the ball to push it wide for a corner which Tom Leggett could only head over the top from. Fitchett was causing all sorts of problems for the visiting defence and in the 68th minute a great turn by the striker saw him able to get a low shot away, Forster getting down well to push it wide though. 5 minutes later he had an even better chance; Hedges made a mazy run inside from the right and eventually he was able to feed the ball to Fitchett in the centre of the goal and unmarked 8 yards out. Somehow though Forster was able to react quickly and clawed away the striker’s powerful effort to general disbelief inside the ground.
Images by Michael Berkeley
On 77 minutes the Whites finally got the 2nd goal their 2nd half display had warranted. With the ball bouncing in the box McCreadie was able to nod the ball goalwards and Gunson reacted quickly to fire the ball into the net from 6 yards out under pressure from 2 defenders. In response to going behind, Dorchester had their most sustained 2nd half spell of possession, unable to test Gould and the closest they came saw Edward James unable to keep his shot down when getting in round the back from a deep free kick.
As the game entered time added on Salisbury added a 3rd to their goal tally; Hedges latching on to Fitchett’s ball and slotting the ball left footed into the back of the net. It seemed like that would be it in terms of goals but pretty much straight from kick off the ball was worked wide to the right and the cross swung in was nodded home by Gwengwe, but it proved nothing more than a consolation as the Whites hung on to seal all 3 points.
Salisbury now enters a period of 3 away games in 7 days, starting with a trip to Wales to face Merthyr Town next Saturday 2nd December for a 3 pm kick-off.
Team: Gould, Simpson, Sommerton, Jombati, Bragg(Penny), Leggett, McCreadie, Gunson, Hedges, Robinson(Fitchett), Williams(Smith)
Unused Subs: Coppin, Harding.
