Monday 1st of May 2023 will be engrained in my memory as the date I saw a number of our young players come of age and compete toe to toe with senior experienced players that have been there, seen it and done it even at higher levels.
For the 159 in the crowd as well as both dug outs during the first half at least it was impossible to tell who were champions elect the Bee’s or the Whites.
I have had many days over the 13 years I have been a manager at Salisbury where I have been immensely proud, but none more so than yesterday. This photo by Andrew Palk for me encapsulates everything I witnessed in this game, a young barely 17 year old player not afraid to climb higher than the senior opposition, and succeeding.
The game itself started at a frantic pace with both sides carving out opportunities but it was great work by Carson Arnold down the right wing that resulted in a pass which gave Abdul Razak a chance to slot home. Unfortunately he fluffed his lines at the vital time, very unlike his usual self in front of goal.
Roocroft had a similar chance which was blocked too in a first half that although it ended even our message in the changing room at the break was ‘they now know they are in a game, more of the same please lads’.
Unfortunately for the home side a soft goal 5 minutes into the 2nd half injected belief into our visitors and possibly left some of the younger players a bit deflated. After all we played two days earlier and the entire starting 11 started and most played 90 minutes, conceding that goal possibly made the legs feel a lot heavier. That said we rallied and went again.
Just 5 minutes or so after the opening goal the Bee’s doubled their advantage, all be it from our point of view it should have been a free kick and a booking at the opposite end of the pitch. A header won by Savage flicked to Arnold who returned the ball into the channel for which Savage dually accepted and drove towards the box, but a run inside by Abdul Razak was unceremoniously brought to a stop when an opposition retreating midfielder blatantly hung out a leg to trip Razak and send him tumbling to the ground in pain. All of that 10 yards in front of the ref! He ignored the incident and waved play on.
Now, there are lessons to be learnt for some who momentarily stopped expecting the whistle to go, it didn’t come and Trowbridge broke up the other end and slotted the ball past Ernie in the home goal to wrap up the title.
injuries to Osei in goal that will rule him out of action for the rest of the season didn’t stop him from finishing the game though, a hero in blue with gloves. Skipper and coaches player of the year Tom Edwards succumbed to injury as well and was replaced by Even Crang. Likewise an exhausted pair of Mealing and Wooding whom both had been excellent throughout, but two games in 3 days is tough on the body, especially when your battlers that don’t shirk a tackle.
There was enough time left in the game for Mo (Omario Henry) to show the crowd just what a threat he can be. I heard a voice from the Trowbridge bench I think that went something like ‘my god he’s quick’. A couple of runs from Mo made it look like the rest of the players are on slow mo. But very little was created in the way of clear chances and the game ended with Trowbridge finally able to celebrate their deserved title.
On the day we have to accept we lost the game, but in my opinion we won respect from all of a Bee’s persuasion. Had we had the 16 players we could field today and a couple more that had to miss this one at the start of the season then I am certain as can be that this match up would have been a top 3 encounter not champions v mid table. As was echoed by our opposition after the game, “keep them lads together and you will be a force to be reckoned with next season”.
Following the game the Whites held their end of season awards in the Sarum Suite
First up Captain Tom Edwards presented our two invaluable volunteers Michaela Winter and Donna Roocroft flowers to two that throughout the season the two have catered for supporters and players alike, done turnstiles, tea hut and have done the club proud with the best post-match food in the league.
Awards where Tom Edwards for coaches player of the year. Dyllan Roocroft for young player of the year and the big one ‘players player’ went to Freddie Winyard.
I would also like to thank Michael Berkeley for giving up his time to photograph most of our home games as well as Steve Arnold for his match graphics throughout the season.
Next Saturday is the final game of the season away to local Pewsey Vale FC. It’s a 3pm kick off at the recreation ground if any whites supporters fancy taking in a game.
