By Pete Martin – Cover image by Roger Elliott
Salisbury avoided defeat for the 1st time in 6 games as they played out a goalless draw at home to Harrow Borough. There was just 1 change from the last league game 10 days ago; Nessum Kherbouche returning from injury to replace Marvin Brooks.
There was a bright start from the visitors and Whites keeper, Gerard Benfield was called into action inside the opening minute, getting down well to push away a shot from Johnny Allotey. It took Salisbury until the 9th minute to have a sight of goal, although James Plant could only put his first-time shot well over the bar following a Dan Fitchett cut back. As the half developed there was little in the way of clear chances and little in the way of real quality from either side in an attacking sense. Shortly after the 20-minute mark, both sides had a half chance in quick succession of each other; Calvin Brooks heading a freekick straight at Harrow keeper Jacob Knightbridge before Kamon-Sherell Assidjo saw his shot blocked wide following good work from Allotey.
Images by Michael Berkeley
On 26 minutes, the visitors had their best chance of the half, Assidjo heading over when unmarked 5 yards out before a lack of communication between Benfield and Kherbouche nearly let them in again, the Whites keeper recovering however to claim the ball. 3 minutes later Assidjo was again unable to convert when the ball fell nicely to him in the box, Calvin Brooks nipping in to clear the danger before at the other end, Plant was unleashed on the left for the first real time; although he could only poke the ball wide after bursting into the area and latching on to Thomas McDermott’s through ball. With 8 minutes to go to half time, the Whites best attacking move of the half saw Fitchett feed Brandon Goodship on the right and, following a clever link-up with fullback Brooks, he was crowded out at the near post and unable to get his shot away to send both sides into half time still searching for the breakthrough.
It was Salisbury who made the brighter start to the 2nd half; 5 minutes into it Josh Carmichael was unlucky to see his improvised shot tipped over by Knightsbridge, before Fitchett could only fire over from close in following the resulting corner. As the 2nd half developed, chances were few and far between; McDermott for Salisbury and Assidjo for Harrow both having glimpses of goal before with 15 minutes to go the Whites had 3 good chances in quick succession. Firstly Goodship whipped a free kick into the box from the left and, with nobody getting a touch, Knightbridge was relieved to see the ball bounce off the post, before Kherbouche picked up the loose ball and drove it goalwards drawing a good save from the Harrow custodian. The resulting corner was then met by Carmichael on the run but he could only deflect his header well wide of goal from a good position.
Images by Roger Elliott
As the game entered the final stages Goodship saw a low shot saved by Knightbridge, before on 88 minutes Brooks fired wide at the back post under pressure from a Harrow defender after a dangerous ball across from Plant. Despite 4 minutes of time added on neither side were able to break the deadlock, with the Whites claiming a 1st point and 1st clean sheet since Boxing Day.
On Saturday 18th February Salisbury will try to build on that as they travel to Hanwell Town for the 1st time in their history, having won the corresponding fixture 2-0 at home in November.
Team: Benfield, Brooks C, Sommerton, Kherbouche, Ogundega, Carmichael, Yang, McDermott, Plant, Goodship, Fitchett(Arnold D)
Unused Subs: Lee, Tomlinson, Arnold C
