THE Whites continued to show the kind of inconsistent form that has plagued their season over the Easter weekend. On Good Friday, they put in a fine performance in North London, thumping Hendon 4-1, before losing 2-1 at home to Winchester on Easter Monday.
Against Hendon, manager Brian Dutton's only change was Devon Arnold coming in for Dan Fitchett who failed a late fitness test.
On a sunny day in the capital, it was Hendon who had the first real sight of goal; captain Joseph White heading weakly at Salisbury goalkeeper Mark Smith when well-placed six yards out. White’s winger James Plant was looking the most dangerous player on the pitch and following a couple of runs inside seeing him crowded out, on 19 minutes he managed to get a low shot in which was claimed at the second attempt by home keeper Aymen Azare. On the half hour mark Smith was again called into action, comfortably claiming a long-range shot from Leo Donnellan before five minutes later the Whites took the lead.
Plant was again involved; he cut inside and smashed a shot against the upright with Arnold doing well to fire home the rebound with two defenders between him and the goal. 1-0 to the visitors at half time.
With three minutes remaining until half time Arnold could have doubled the advantage, but his touch was slightly heavy and allowed Azaze to smother the ball following a fine passing move from the visitors to send them into half-time with just a 1-goal advantage.
The second half began with Salisbury very much on the front foot and early on Tom McDermott drew a save from Azare before on 50 minutes he got his name on the scoresheet.
Arnold broke away quickly down the right-hand side and he showed composure to pick out McDermott on the edge of the area who took a touch before curling a low shot into the corner of the net.
Just five minutes later it was three with McDermott again the man to grab the goal. Plant battled hard to get free on the left-hand side and crossed the ball in, where Goodship’s header was blocked on the line with the on-loan Port Vale man on hand to lash home the rebound.
With the Whites three goals to the good, Hendon finally woke up and in a six minutes spell Smith needed to be alert to deny Liam Brooks, Shaun Lucien and Donnellan.
On 69 minutes the home side did pull a goal back when Frank Kieta, only on the pitch for two minutes, fired the ball home following a quick break.
On 81 minutes Aaron McCreadie sealed the game for Salisbury. A good move, mainly down the left-hand side saw the ball come to the young midfielder on the edge of the area and he took one touch before firing home for his second goal in consecutive matches.
Salisbury could not carry any momentum into the game against Winchester. Winchester took the lead in the sixth minute when former Salisbury man Warren Bentley gave the visitors the lead. and he made no mistake. Four minutes later though it was the turn of the Winchester defence to show hesitancy and Devon Arnold took full advantage to score the equalizer. In the second half Winchester introduced Dan Jones, replacing Jamie Barron, and it was Jones who's shot from just outside the area being deflected in by Warren Bentley.
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