Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

SALISBURY CITY 3 – 1 DROYLSDEN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER, Saturday 1 March 2008

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods are still to record an away victory in their inaugural campaign in non-league's top flight, but many would argue they deserved at least a point from this encounter in deepest blustery Wiltshire.

A second half wonder strike from Ashley Burbeary made for an exciting conclusion to this game, but a crucial goal was conceded on the stroke of half-time with the Bloods ready to attack a single goal deficit with the wind at their backs.

It was no great surprise when the hosts began stronger, aided by the elements, most of the game was played in Droylsden's half, with Paul Phillips struggling to reach the half-way line with his clearances.

However, it was the visitors who recorded the game's first chance, but Jamie McGuire's shot was high and wide.

Salisbury then began to create real chances – firstly the pacey Liam Feeney missed his kick in front of goal from Andrew Andell's cross, and then Robert Matthews turned, but his shot was straight at Phillips.

Feeney again threatened, but he was denied by a superb tackle from Karl Munroe, but the breakthrough arrived on 19 minutes, when Feeney appeared to kick the ball from Phillips' grasp, but the officials saw nothing wrong and he was allowed to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

On the half hour mark, Matthews found himself with space in the box from a long throw-in, but Phillips was out quickly to save at his feet, and Phillips then held on to a long range effort from Robert Sinclair.

Disaster struck for the Bloods in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the half, when Feeney flicked the ball over the Droylsden defence for Wayne Turk to run on to and coolly guide past Phillips to give the hosts a ore comfortable two goal cushion.

After the run around, the expected Bloods' onslaught did not happen immediately, as Matthews forced Phillips into a save at his near post, and he then had to tip over a rising drive by Feeney after he had exchanged passes with Matthews.

Droylsden finally began to exert themselves, as McGuire had Ryan Clarke at full stretch just after the hour after Burbeary had beaten two on the wing to set-up the chance, but the Whites struck back through Feeney who forced Phillips into another save, and Matthews headed wide from the resultant flag kick.

Sinclair's volley went off target for the home side before Terry Fearns and Danny Ellis looked to get a goal back, but the latter was denied by a finger-tip save from Clarke.

Kevin Lynch then had Clarke saving at the expense of a corner, and Ellis set-up Steve Daly, but he failed to get sufficient purchase on his sht, and it was easy for Clarke.

With nine minutes remaining, Burbeary collected a clearance from Clarke inside the centre circle, and volleyed goalwards, but with Clarke stranded to the side of his goal, the ball flew into the opposite corner to set-up a tense finale.

The Bloods pressed hard, but failed to create any further real chances, and were caught by a sucker punch in the fifth minute of added time when Salisbury won possession through Sandell. Ellis gave chase, but Sandell found Darrell Clarke who clipped the ball over the advancing Phillips. This, however, came after the Bloods were in possession with Burbeary advancing over the half-way line, but the game was brought back for a free kick following a dive by Matthews in the Droylsden box, leaving Dave Pace fuming. Why Mr. Bennett did not see fit to wait until the ball was next out of play to book the Salisbury forward, only he knows.

Nevertheless, as each game passes by, the Bloods' survival chances are looking slimmer and slimmer, and given Jody Banim's loan to Torquay, one wonders where any attacking creativity might come from to assist with their plight.

TEAMS:

Salisbury City: Clarke, Bass, Robinson, Bond, Asafu-Adjaye (Herring, 90+4'), Sinclair, Turk (Clarke, 90+3'), Sandell, Bartlett (Fowler, 75'), Matthews, Feeney.

Subs. not used: Bittner, Brown.

Droylsden: Phillips, Cryan (Newton, 60'), Halford, Munroe, Strong, Murphy (Lynch, 66'), Vaughan (Ellis, 66'), McGuire, Burbeary, Fearns, Daly.

Subs. not used: Murtagh, Dugdale.

REFEREE: Mr. Andy Bennett (Okehampton, Devon)

ATTENDANCE: 1,307