The money spent over the last 2 seasons
was well spent at despite the appalling wind and rain
in the 24 hours prior to KO the Priory Lane pitch was
perfectly playable. The conditions were awful and full
credit must be given to the 750 + individuals with prepared
to turn out and support their clubs. Injuries and illness
provide the opportunity for Ollie Rowe to make his debut
for the Sports, Kayne McLaggon also given his 1st start,
Joe Benjamin making his 1st appearance at Priory Lane
after his Senior Cup away debut.
The visitors take the opening 45 advantage
of the strong and swirling wind. Long distance free-kick
after 5 minutes 'worries' Danny Knowles, but wide. The
Whites were adopting a shoot on sight policy but in the
opening 10 minutes struggled to find their range. On the
1/4 hour owe defended excellently a low cross and Danny
Knowles saved direct from the resulting corner.
Liam Enver-Marum showed strength to get
a shot away on 22 minutes and he combined well with Neil
Jenkins moments later; the Boro left-back over-hitting
his cross. Darrell Clarke drew a low save from Knowles
as the visitors again used the wind to advance into the
Boro half. Danny Brown kept the ball low to set McLaggon
away but the last man kept pace and as he went to turn
inside the ball was cleared.
Playing at centre-back didn't prevent
a trademark Austin run as on 30 minutes he intercepted
a pass and surged into the heart of the opposition defence.
His pass wide to Benjamin allowed a decent shot - just
inches over the bar.
On 40 minutes the visitors thought they
had opened the scoring as Tubbs rolled the ball home but
the striker was adjudged offside - The Sports reprieved.
A free-kick from 36 yards smashed against the Boro bar;
Knowles getting a finger tip save from Tubbs's great wind
assisted effort. As the half ended Boro's luck held as
an effort from the half-way line skidded wide with pace
again added by the conditions. Enver-Marum almost beat
the offside trap but the home side saw out the 2 minutes
of added time with no drama.
The blue sky that briefly appeared in
the 1st half was replaced by dark threatening clouds,
and the 1st attack belonged to Salisbury, Rowe clearing
at the far post as the rain started again. Benjamin got
a fine left foot strike away on 51 minutes but James Bittner
was well positioned to gather safely.
On 62 minutes an incredible decision saw Joe Benjamin
booked for a dive as he beat the right-back for desire,
strength and pace and was hauled down from behind ! The
Boro penalty 'hoodoo' continuing at Priory Lane. Enver-Marum
provided a great cross from the right as sub Jamie Taylor
made a run towards the front post, Bittner again gathering
bravely. Austin shot from wide right on the half-way line
as, like Tubbs in the opening 45, he struck the bar from
distance.
Taylor shot from a narrow left-hand angle
after some excellent work from Paul Armstrong but the
ball was deflected behind for a corner. Benjamin flashed
a ball across the goal, deflected behind and Jenkins almost
dropped the ball into the net from the corner. Mr Cooper
further endeared himself to the Boro crowd with a 'straight
red' for neil jenkins and the free-kick allowed the ball
to be delivered into the heart of the Boro box for Chris
Flood to finish from close range with the last kick of
the match.
Words : Lee Peskett
