Thursday, August 07, 2008

Game 4: Salisbury City 3.1 Bristol Rovers (Friendly) 05.08.08

Alan took the train up from Portsmouth (eventually, after some signalling problems) to join me at this game - almost a year since we went up to Droylesden for the opening game of the 2007-8 season.

We arrived in plenty of time and were treated to an early goal from Matt Tubbs after 2 minutes. He ran through the Rovers defence but appeared to have overhit the ball towards the keeper. Luckily the keeper didn't react in time and Tubbs controlled it and placed a low shot into the back of the net. Salisbury continued to put some pressure on the visitors goal and on 10 minutes Andy Sandell almost doubled the lead. He took the ball around the keeper on the edge of the six yard box but was forced wide and his cross was cleared for a corner.


It took 32 minutes for Rovers to create a decent chance - a shot that was deflected wide for a corner. The next 5 minutes was all Rovers - Bittner made a save at the near post from a chest high shot on 34 mins, watched a shot go across the goal and wide from the right hand side on 37 minutes and saw another shot just over the post on 38 minutes.



Despite this spell of pressure, Salisbury added a second goal just before half time. A cross came in from the left hand side and Sandell poked it into the net from close range. It was a well deserved goal even if it came against the run of play as Salisbury had made the best chances throughout the half.

The second half also began with a Salisbury chance but it wasn't taken, much to the annoyance of the majority of the 641 crowd. Robbie Matthews was one of four halftime subs and took the ball towards the goal, only to check back onto his right foot and hit a shot over the bar. The Salisbury team showed some individual moments of skill - Feeney nutmegged a defender at pace along the right hand touchline while Davis succeeded with an overhead kick in the penalty area from a deep cross.
Matthews was getting more into this game then others - balls were being played through the channels to allow him to run on, rather than to his head to try and hold up. After 62 minutes he ran through the defence to the bye-line and put a cross along the 6 yard line but no-one was able to add the final touch and score.



Bristol Rovers made a couple of chances and won a penalty on 75 minutes. Bittner went the right way but the shot was too well struck and ended up curling into the right side of the side netting. Salisbury were determined not to let them equalise - Feeney and Davis worked well to get a cross into the box but Dutton put his shot wide. Most of the play was in the half in front of us and it was no surprise when Salisbury added a third goal on 87 minutes. Sandell turned provider and put a cross in for Matthews to smash in from 3 yards out.



An entertaining game with lots of chances for the home team - hopefully a good sign for the start of the season on Saturday.

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