By Pete Martin
Salisbury fell to a 3-1 defeat away at title challengers Weston-super-Mare on a miserable afternoon in Somerset. There was a first start of the season for long-term injury victim Calvin Brooks, as well as a debut for new signing Callum Rowe. The other change for the Whites saw Dan Fitchett replace the injured Brandon Goodship up front.
Weston took an early lead on 5 minutes as a long cross-field ball from Lloyd Humpries caused confusion amongst the defence and keeper, Gerard Benfield, with Scott Laird able to nip in and head the ball into an unguarded goal from the edge of the area. The home side could have doubled their lead a minute later but Josh Sommerton was alert to snuff out the danger and block the ball. Weston continued to look the more likely and on 20 minutes they did have the ball in the net again but an offside flag denied them the chance to celebrate a 2nd. They again threatened 2 minutes later; Seokjae Lee gave the ball away and Reuben Reid drove forward before Benfield tipped his shot over the bar. As Weston continued to pressure they saw an effort from a corner blocked on the line before on the half-hour mark Weston keeper Max Harris was called into action, although Josh Carmichael’s free-kick was easy for him to deal with. As the half ticked on, Weston saw Marlon Jackson shoot wide before on 42 minutes Benfield was again busy to deny Dayle Grubb with his curled effort to keep the score to 1 at half time.
Salisbury started the 2nd half a little brighter and on 52 minutes a well-struck free kick from Lee found only the wall before at the other end Benfield was again alert to push away an effort from Grubb. On 59 minutes the Whites best move of the match saw them work the ball down the right before the move ended with Lee hitting a shot straight at Harris. Just after the hour mark, Weston doubled their lead and it came from a Salisbury free kick on the halfway line. The ball was quickly lost and it found its way to Jackson whose effort went in via the bar and Benfield. 2 minutes later it was 3 as Sam Roberts bought down Reid in the area with the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot; Grubb giving Benfield no chance from the spot kick. A series of substitutions disrupted the flow of the game with neither side able to fashion much in the way of goal-scoring chances; a low shot from Lee easily dealt with by Harris being the best opportunity, before on 80 minutes Grubb drew another save from Benfield after good link-up play with Jordan Bastin. With 4 minutes to go, Salisbury got a consolation goal as Josh Wakefield timed his run to perfection to convert Lee’s ball into the box but that was as good as it got as Weston saw the game out to hold onto the points and maintain their challenge at the top of the league.
Salisbury will face another tough test next Saturday when they welcome a Chesham United side who currently sit 3rd in the league, for a 3 pm kick-off.
Team: Benfield, Brooks C(Gillela), Rowe, Roberts, Sommerton, Carmichael, Wakefield, Yang(Lawerence), Lee, Ashton, Fitchett(Arnold).
Unused Subs: Thomson, Diaz.
