I wasn't expecting to see an FA Cup match this evening but after the 1.1 draw at Highworth on Saturday, I found myself jogging across a wet car park at the Ray Mac this evening as the rain teemed down.
The big news before the match was that former striker Jake Reid had signed on again for the Whites after leaving Bath City. He was presented to the crowd before the match started. The general consensus around me was that Salisbury hadn't turned it on against the lower league opposition at the weekend but I was hoping for a repeat of the Farnborough replay from last season with plenty of goals and excitement.
Highworth had the first good chance of the match when they broke down the left after 5 minutes. From a throw in, the ball was switched to the right side of the area but the shor flew over the bar. Salisbury were quick to respond, Joyce firing wide and Dutton hitting an attempt over in the next five minutes.
The players were finding it a little difficult at times to control the ball as there was lots of spray coming off the wet surface. McLaggon was running at pace at the visitors backline and in the 13th minute it looked like he had been brought down in the area at the far end. Despite the appeals of the crowd, the refere waived play on. Salisbury came even closer to a goal 3 minutes later when the goalkeeper saved a Giles header with his feet.
Salisbury managed to take the lead after 19 minutes. Knight took the ball down the left before cutting inside and taking a shot. It looked like it bounced off the bar before being headed in by Giles. Salisbury were looking confident and extended the lead in the 29th minute when Dutton hit a volley past the keeper.
Highworth pressed again towards the end of the half and had two good opportunites from corners but weren't able to score. In the final minute of the half Salisbury played a long ball into the area. It looked like it was going to the keeper but McLaggon slid in and diverted the ball in at the near post.
The game was fairly similar in the second half with Salisbury dominating play and possession. The crowd started to get a little frustrated that their team weren't adding to the scoreline, especially when Highworth broke away after a Salisbury corner in the 63rd minute and wasted a good opportunity to score.
The frustration didn't last long as Salisbury scored the best goal of the night in the 70th minute. Brett played a curving long ball from near the halfway line in front of the dugouts. The ball was weighted so it went over the defence but straight in line for Joyce to run onto and score.
Salisbury wrapped it up in the 77th minute when substitute Silver combined well with Joyce to play Knight in. He ran forward and hit his shot low past the keeper into the centre of the goal. A good performance from the home team that sent most of the crowd of 596 home happy and looking forward to the next round at Sholing.
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