By Pete Martin – Cover image by Michael Berkeley
Salisbury’s 2023 got off to a losing start as they went down to a 3-1 defeat at home to Poole Town. For the first time in a long time, Brain Dutton was able to name an unchanged starting lineup; the only alterations being to the subs bench where Josh Sommerton made a welcome return from injury, with Seung Yang also coming in having resigned for the club on loan from Eastleigh.
Images by Michael Berkeley
It was Poole who got off to the faster start and they had the ball in the back off the net after just 4 minutes, only for referee Charlie Bullock to adjudge a hand had been used. The Dolphins continued to pressure and after 10 minutes Wes Fogden shot narrowly wide, before 6 minutes later The Whites threatened for the 1st time; Devon Arnold unable to trouble Luke Cairney in the Poole goal with a flicked header following Calvin Brooks’s cross. With Poole continuing to look the more likely, Fogden was unlucky to see his snapshot from inside the box rebound off the post before shortly after the 20-minute mark there were chances at either end; Marvin Brooks shooting straight at Cairney before Poole broke and only a fine last-ditch tackle from Sam Roberts prevented former White’s striker Toby Holmes from opening the scoring.
Just after the half-hour mark the deadlock was broken and it came via the penalty spot. Holmes picked up the ball, drove into the box and the faintest of touches saw him tumble to the ground, with strike partner Tony Lee picking up the ball and dispatching the penalty with the minimum of fuss. 5 minutes later the visitors doubled their lead, with Lee again the man on the scoresheet. A poor clearance from Gerard Benfield in the Whites’ goal was intercepted, and Luke Pardoe fed it to Lee who rifled home a fine finish high into the net from just inside the box.
Images by Michael Berkeley
As the half drew towards a close, Salisbury had 2 chances to get a goal back; first Dan Fitchett headed well over from a cross into the box, before Brandon Goodship curled a freekick narrowly wide of the goal to send Poole Town into the break 2 goals to the good and good value for their lead.
Images by Michael Berkeley
Salisbury started the 2nd half much stronger and had the ball in the net inside the 1st minute; the linesman correctly flagging for offside though to deny the Whites the dream start to the half. It was the home side who were the more dominant with Poole happy to sit on what they had and allow Salisbury plenty of possession, albeit without managing to threaten Cairney’s goal. Shortly before the hour mark former Poole player Josh Carmichael was able to find room on the edge of the box but could only shoot wide before, on 66 minutes, Poole grabbed a 3rd goal to kill the game. The Dolphins broke down the right-hand side and the move ended with Pardoe hitting a shot across Benfield and into the net with the aid of the far post. From that point on there was plenty of endeavour from Salisbury to get back into the game, but the Whites struggled to create the chances to really make a game of it.
Images by Michael Berkeley
Poole were more than happy to allow their opponents the ball in the midfield but it wasn’t until 81 minutes in that Cairney was seriously tested; Goodship’s freekick pushed around the post low to the keeper’s right. From the subsequent corner, substitute Yang was brought down inside the box with a penalty awarded. Once again, however, Cairney denied Goodship, this time down to his left to keep the penalty out. In time added on the Whites did finally grab a consolation goal, Sam Roberts heading into the far corner when the ball was recycled from a corner but it proved to be to little too late as Poole returned to the South coast with all 3 points.
Salisbury will attempt to bounce back this coming Saturday 7th Jan when they travel to North Wiltshire to take on Swindon Supermarine for a 3 pm kickoff.
Team: Benfield, Brooks C, Gillela(Sommerton), Roberts, Kherbouche, Carmichael, Lawerence(Yang), Brooks M, Arnold(Tomlinson), Goodship, Fitchett
Unused Subs: Gunstone-Gray, Lee
