By Pete Martin
Salisbury made the long trip south to play Plymouth Parkway and returned empty-handed following a 3-1 defeat that saw the hosts pick up their first league win of the season. The White’s teamsheet showed 3 changes from Saturday’s victory over Bracknell; Josh Sommerton, Dan Fitchett and Brandon Goodship coming in to replace Dinesh Gillela, Ben Thomson and Devon Arnold.
With light drizzle falling in South Devon it was Salisbury who started the brightest with the games opening chance arriving on 13 minutes. Antonio Diaz won the ball back in the midfield and was able to feed it wide to Charlie Davis who whipped a first-time ball into the box only for Fitchett to fail to connect properly when well placed 5 yards out. Despite dominating possession that was the only real chance the Whites were able to carve out in the opening 20 minutes and they were made to pay on 19 minutes when Parkway took the lead against the run of play. In their first meaningful attack of the game they created space down the left-hand side and striker Ben Seymour was in the right place in the box to finish the move and give his side the advantage. From then on the home side really grew in confidence with 2 chances arriving around the half-hour mark. Firstly Callum Hall fizzed a shot just wide from distance before Ryan Lane did likewise after the Whites had lost the ball in their own half. Following a half chance for Salisbury skipper Darren Mullings, the last action of the half saw Gerard Benfield have to be at his very best to stop Seymour doubling his tally, making an excellent full-length save from a well-struck shot inside the box.
The second half started in a similar vein to the first with Mullings heading an early corner over the bar as the Whites were able to see plenty of the ball, even if not creating many clearcut chances. There was a warning of what Parkway could do on the break after 57 minutes but Jared Lewington headed the ball just wide at the end of a quick break, and after Josh Carmichael had shot over the top from 25 yards it was the home side who doubled their advantage. Lewington had a shot which was deflected behind and from the subsequent corner, Mikey Williams headed home his side’s second goal with the Salisbury defence making it rather too easy for him to do so. It didn’t take long for Salisbury to bounce back and they grabbed a goal just 4 minutes later through Charlie Davis, who fired home from 12 yards after Fitchett had cut the ball back from the right. The Whites had chances to draw the game level with first Goodship shooting narrowly over from a tight angle before the same player’s persistence saw him in the right place to smash the ball goalwards following a deflected Davis effort, only for home keeper Kyle Moore to deny him and Fitchett to blaze the rebound high over the bar. With time running out Salisbury continued to push forward to look for the equaliser only to be punished on the break with the last move of the game. Seymour’s shot after cutting in was saved by Benfield but substitute Jack Crago was on hand to tap home and seal the 3 points for his side.
With scheduled opponents, Hanwell Town in cup action this Saturday, the Whites have no game this coming weekend meaning their next fixture will be the FA Trophy tie away to Truro City, who ground share with Plymouth Parkway. That game is scheduled for the weekend of the 8th Oct with the final date to be confirmed.
Team: Benfield, Davis, Sommerton(Lee), Roberts, Sutcliffe, Carmichael, Mullings, Diaz(Arnold), Goodship, Ashton(Wakefield), Fitchett.
Unused Subs: Matthews, Thomson.
