By Pete Martin – All images by Roger Elliott
Salisbury picked up their first home league win since early November as they got the better of North Leigh in a 6-goal thriller. There were 3 changes from last week’s draw at Gosport; James Plant returning from suspension to replace Lucas Tomlinson, Nassim Kherbouche coming in for Sam Roberts and a debut for Mark Smith in goal, with Gerard Benfield dropping to the bench.
With the visitors fighting for their life near the bottom of the league, it was them who made the faster start and they looked to get the ball forward quickly at every opportunity. On 7 minutes a smart ball down the right-hand side saw Justin Obikwu get in behind the defence and cross the ball into the danger zone where Tobi Ogundega had to be alert and clear, with 2 North Leigh attackers just unable to reach the ball. 6 minutes later though they should have taken the lead. A long clearance from defence saw Kherbouche attempt to head the ball back to Smith in the area, only to see the ball bounce past the keeper. Obikwu was alert to nip in but with the goal at his mercy, Kherbouche showed great speed to get back and block the ball, with Josh Sommerton arriving in time to then bundle it behind for a corner.
There was another scare for the Whites on 18 minutes; defender Zak Mitchell heading a corner just over the bar when free at the back post, before on 23 minutes the home side took the lead slightly against the run of play. Plant battled in midfield to win the ball and when he slipped it forward to Dan Fitchett, the striker showed good pace to burst into the box where he was brought down by Mitchell, with a penalty awarded. Brandon Goodship grabbed the ball and he stepped up to confidently dispatch the ball past Adam North in the North Leigh goal.
The lead lasted just 6 minutes though as the visitors bounced back and responded with 2 goals of their own in a 3-minute period. Firstly they put together a fine passing move which ended with Latrell Humphrey-Ewers curling home a left-footed shot from the edge of the box before fine footwork from Jordan Thomas saw him beat 3 players inside the 6-yard box and slot the ball home.
Then it was Salisbury’s turn to immediately respond and they grabbed a quick equaliser to make it 4 goals in just 11 minutes. Goodship swung in a corner right to the danger area and Plant was on hand to fire the ball home and restore the parity. On 40 minutes the Whites could have again taken the lead but Goodship fired over when well placed before on the stroke of half time North Leigh’s Thomas headed a corner just over the bar to send the teams in level following an entertaining 1st half.
Salisbury came out for the 2nd half with an increased tempo and a slight tactical switch saw them looking to take the game to their opponents. They had a number of set pieces early on and on 51 minutes, North had to tip the ball over the bar from a Calvin Brooks header with Goodship swinging a dangerous ball into the box. They made their pressure count after 61 minutes when they took the lead with Fitchett getting his name on the scoresheet. Devon Arnold was set away down the right hand side and his dangerous low ball into the box could only be fumbled by North straight into the path of the Salisbury skipper who made no mistake 5 yards out.
Although North Leigh continued to battle it was the Whites who were on top of the game, albeit without managing to further test North. On 77 minutes, however, their task in seeing out the game got even harder as they were reduced to 10 men. With North Leigh on the ball on the right-hand touchline Bouwe Bosma was adjudged to have lunged in 2 footed on an opposition player and received his marching orders from referee Adrian Harris. Despite having a man disadvantage Salisbury continued to pressure and on 81 minutes another dangerous ball in from Arnold on the right just evaded Plant at the back post, before 3 minutes later the home side found themselves further depleted when Kherbouche was shown a 2nd yellow card for a deliberate handball just outside the area, with Thomas curling the subsequent free-kick over the top of the bar. On 89 minutes however 9 man Salisbury put the game to bed when Arnold tapped home after Brooks had beaten 2 men down the right and put the ball on a plate for him to seal the game and a much-needed 3 points.
The Whites are back in action at the Ray Mac stadium this Tuesday 21st March when they welcome Hayes and Yeading for a 7:45 pm kick-off.
Team: Smith, Brooks C, Sommerton, Kherbouche, Ogundega, Bosma, McCreadie, Arnold D(Perez-Duah), Plant(Roberts), Goodship(Yang), Fitchett. Unused Subs: Benfield, Arnold C.
Highlights
