Blue Square Bet South (05.03.13)
Basingstoke Town 2
Salisbury City: Puddy, Wilson, J. Clarke, Dutton (c), Hart (Udoji, 63), Lewis (Frear, 54), Wellard, Brett, R. Sinclair (Ademeno, 70) McPhee, Fitchett.
Subs not used: Scott, Giles.
Att: 468.
SALISBURY City’s title hopes are starting to vanish as they slammed to their first home defeat of the campaign.
The Whites haven't lost at the Ray Mac since March 17 to Boreham Wood - which left the home supporters in utter disbelief.
A goal in each half from Basingstoke Town’s Simon Dunnn and Delano Sam-Yorke completed the victory and left City without a win in their past four games.
Not helping matters, the management team were still missing the injured Stuart Sinclair and top scorer Jamie White to illness.
During a fast-paced start, Fitchett, who has found some form in the past two games, scoring three, immediately mounted the pressure on the visitors.
He headed Brian Dutton’s flick-on just past Ashley Bayes’ far post and minutes later, his flying half-volley dipped off target.
Chris McPhee then dummied a Town defender and squared to Theo Lewis who fired into the stands.
With the visitors absorbing all the pressure, somehow they pulled their noses in front on the 28th minute.
Ben Jefford’s accelerating delivery was headed back across goal by Tim Sills and Dunn beat Will Puddy to it and touched it home.
Back came the Whites and Dutton nodded down Ryan Brett’s cross into a dangerous position but McPhee’s effort wriggled over the top.
Several minutes before the break, sluggish City defending allowed Sam-Yorke to surge clear but his long-range effort was awfully mistimed.
After having copious chances before the break, the hosts only lifted their game inside 70 minutes. Brett’s cross was again hit off-target by the leaping Fitchett, who deserved a reward for his work-rate.
Fitchett had another shot but couldn’t properly test Ashley Bayes.
Then a confusing moment in stoppage time confirmed a horrible night for Salisbury. After Darrell Clarke and assistant manager Mikey Harris were screaming to make a substitute, they were ignored by the referee and were forced to continue with ten men.
Consequently Sam-Yorke reacted to James Clarke’s error and sent a low shot via the post and into the corner, in front of the ecstatic visiting fans.
Salisbury have nine games left and are still two points behind Conference South leaders Welling United, who have two games in hand.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article