First home game of the season and Salisbury welcomed Purton to the Cattle Market.
After picking up a few injuries in their last game Salisbury are playing without the normal starting lineup and a few players out of their usual positions.
Salisbury gets us underway but soon after kickoff Purton takes control of the game and applies pressure to the Salisbury back line, within 5 minutes a ball has been played over the defence and picked up by the striker who finds the back of the net. 1-0 to Purton.
Still early in the first half and Purton continue applying pressure and win a free kick which goes over the crossbar.
Imogen Brady has found some space and made a run down the wing but is crushed between two players, play continues but nothing comes from this chance. 20 minutes into the first half and Salisbury have more control on the ball and play seems to settle. A foul on a Salisbury player just outside the Purton box leads to a free kick taken by Ellen Clarke – a fantastic strike which finds the back of the net and brings the score to 1-1.
29 minutes in and Purton have control of the game again and with some great link up play and good passing they break through the Salisbury defence and score another goal. 2-1 Purton.
Fantastic save from Nicky Millings and some hard work from Kim Ward and Captain Gemma Marsh gives Salisbury time to breathe while Evie Cummings gets the ball forward and Salisbury have some good possession. Halftime.
Second half and Salisbury started much stronger with some passes on the ground, Amy Sanger subbed off for Georgi Bavister. Within minutes Imogen Brady has a very good chance on goal for Salisbury and is unlucky not to score. Kim Ward has gone down with cramp and is subbed off for Annabel Dugwell. 21 minutes into the second half and Noni Davis is down injured from a corner by Purton but she’s on her feet again after treatment.
Gemma Fletcher is now on the pitch to replace Deyna Davie, Zoe Alcock is working hard to keep the ball on the left wing as she battles through and makes great runs going forward.
Purton have another free kick caused by a tackle from Zoe Alcock but Purton miss and Salisbury have a goal kick.
Salisbury take the ball up the pitch and find Georgi Bavister who is taken down in the box, no penalty but the ball goes out for a Salisbury corner.
Zoe Alcock off and Deyna Davie back on. Purton string together some strong passes and make a fast run down the wing and with some good footwork find the back of the net to make it 3-1 to Purton.
Not long left in the second half and Salisbury are still fighting to win balls and make something out of this game, Georgi Bavister and Annabel Dugwell make a run down the middle, Georgi lays the ball off and Annabel picks it up and scores making it 3-2. A few minutes into extra time and the Purton manager has been shown a yellow card for dissent.
With only a few minutes of play left things are getting very heated and Salisbury find themselves with a free kick outside the Purton box. Imogen Brady has gone down injured and is subbed off to make way for Kim Ward just before the free kick is taken, Ellen Clarke stands above the ball and plays it short to Deyna Davie who shoots for goal but misses the target and the ref blows the final whistle immediately after.
Player of the match is awarded to Nicky Millings who stepped up to play in goal for Salisbury and pulled off several spectacular saves.
Player Sponsor Shout Out:
Nicky Millings (GK) – Moto-Lita LTD
Gemma Marsh (C) – Tribex Services LTD
Noni Davis – Steele Communications LTD
Amy Baird – Connolly SPAR
Amy Sanger – Dynamite Scaffolding
Georgi Bavister – Restart IT Services
Sean Brady – Match Report Analyst
