By Pete Martin

Despite a much-improved performance, Salisbury still returned empty-handed from an Easter Monday trip to Gosport Borough following a narrow 1 nil defeat. Due to continued injury issues, The Whites were again only able to name 2 substitutes and had striker Dan Fitchett playing out of position at centre half. 

Salisbury started fairly brightly and were the first side to threaten when a rasping drive from Abdulai Baggie stung the gloves of home keeper Flynn Talley after the winger had twisted and turned into a good shooting position. Gosport started to come into the game and created half chances for both Billie Busari and Harry Kavanagh before former Salisbury favourite Elliot Wheeler put an effort wide. The home side had been getting on top and it didn’t come as much surprise when on 25 minutes they opened the scoring through striker Dan Wooden. Bradley Tarbuck came down the right and sent over an inviting cross for Wooden to head home despite Pat O’Flaherty getting a hand to it. 5 minutes later the home side nearly doubled their lead but Harvey Rew put a good chance over the bar after the ball had deflected kindly to him inside the box. Salisbury attempted to fight back and Sam Ashton put a shot wide but despite ending the half on top they were unable to fashion any clear cut chances. 

The second half saw Salisbury start as they had ended the first and after Darren Mullings had put a header straight at Talley, the Whites managed to get the ball in the back of the net for the first time in their last 400 minutes of football only to see an offside flag deny Ashton after he had converted Antonio Diaz defence-splitting ball. This seemed to stall the Salisbury momentum and it was again Gosport who took control of the game although they were unable to fully test O’Flaherty between the sticks. The closest they came were half chances for Tarbuck, Kavanagh and substitute Luke Hallett whilst at the other end a weak Fitchitt shot was about all that The Whites could muster and despite plenty of effort they were unable to create a chance for an equaliser and Gosport were able to see the game out and claim the 3 points. 

There is just 1 more league game to go for Salisbury and it sees them welcome Kings Langley to the Ray Mac on Saturday 23rd April for a 3 pm kick-off. 

Team: O’Flaherty, Davis, Diaz, Knowles, Roberts, Fitchett, Wakefield(Hawke), Mullings, Baggie, Ashton, Arnold. 

Unused Sub: Beauchamp.

Ian Pearson
April 19, 2022

Ian Pearson

Media & Website Manager