Salisbury travel away to Westbury on a very wet cold winters day, an earlier kickoff of 11:30am, the game gets underway and Salisbury instantly put the pressure on and make some fantastic passes. Deyna Davie spots Rachel Lang in space on the left wing and finds her with a well weighted pass. Rachel sets off and dribbles past two defenders and cuts in to make her shot, finding the back of the net and getting Salisbury on the score board 1-0.
Westbury kick off and make a good run forward but Olivia Leather cleans up and regains possession to Salisbury. Leanne Griffiths-Lower is in an excellent position and receives the ball but can’t get her shot away – she moves around a player and takes a shot but it is rebounded back into the middle of field and collected by Nicola Millings, she flicks it on to Zoe Alcock but nothings comes of it and Westbury clear the ball away up field.
A foul on a Westbury player gets them a free kick in a promising position. The kick is taken quickly but ends up straight into the arms of GK Daisy Burnfield.
The game continues in the same way for the rest of the first half with players going forwards in both directions but neither team capitalising, they seem to be evenly matched, the ref blows for halftime.
Westbury get the game under way in the second half and Salisbury already look strong in the first few minutes and determined to increase their lead. Leanne Griffiths-Lower finds space on the right wing and with a fantastic cross, fires it into the box to a ready and waiting Zoe Alcock who on her first touch knocks it into the back of the net, helped on by an intervening Westbury defender. 2-0 to Salisbury.
Soon after the goal Salisbury make their first substitution of the day with Deyna Davie making way for Georgi Bavister.
Salisbury are awarded a free kick in a dangerous area, Vice Captain Ellen Clarke steps up and is keen to repeat her previous success last week, she strikes the ball hard and sends it towards goal but the goalkeeper jumps and just gets her finger tips to it and brings it down. Westbury pass the ball out from the back but Olivia Leather is there in the middle to clean up and regain possession for Salisbury.
Two more changes for Salisbury as Noni Davies and Lucy Pears join the game to replace Zoe Alcock and Ellen Clarke.
Westbury have a great chance on goal as goalkeeper Daisy Burnfield has come off her line but Evie Cummings makes an exceptional goal line clearance to keep Salisbury’s clean sheet.
Vice captain Ellen Clarke makes her way back onto the pitch to rest Nicola Millings.
Westbury make a run towards the Salisbury goal Captain Gemma Marsh gets the ball but also catches the player and the ref sees this as a foul and awards a free kick. Westbury stand behind the ball and size up the goal, she strikes the ball well and it goes top right corner out of Daisy Burnfield’s reach making it 2-1 to Salisbury.
Salisbury kick off and instantly progress up field towards goal, however the ball is knocked behind for a corner. Leanna Griffiths-Lower takes the corner and finds Vice Captain Ellen Clarke who chests the ball into the net making it 3-1 to Salisbury.
Two more substitutions Leanne Griffiths-Lower and Olivia Leather make way for Beth McKinney and Deyna Davie.
With only a few minutes left of the second half Salisbury keep possession and pass it around with ease and Westbury having tired legs are unable to make any further impact on the game. The ref blows the final whistle and it finishes 3-1 to Salisbury.
Olivia Leather gets player of the match for covering every blade of grass on the pitch and making some vital tackles.
Match Reporter – Sean Brady
