To round off our January fixtures, we hosted Salisbury as we looked to continue putting pressure on top spot in the league, whilst the visitors aimed to round off an unbeaten January and steer clear of the relegation zone.
Victory at Meadowbank was set to be no easy task for the visitors, as we had won two of the previous three encounters between the two sides this season, as well as winning 11 of our 13 home matches. We started the match the faster of the two teams, with a Paul McCallum header on target, easily gathered by William Buse in the Salisbury goal.
The first goal of the afternoon followed our first shot on target in swift fashion, as Patrick Casey continued his fine form by powering a volley home from inside the penalty box after the ball was partially headed clear. Jimmy Muitt then shot wide from a Paul McCallum long throw, before Brennan Camp headed on target, also following a McCallum delivery.
In the opening exchanges of the match, we dominated the affair with blocked efforts and shots wide as we pressurised the visitors after our early advantage.
Patrick Casey’s strike partner Paul McCallum almost found his name on the scoresheet early on as well, after chesting the ball down from a corner and smashing an effort into the side netting. Casey then tested William Buse once more, before Dennon Lewis produced a tame effort when bearing down on goal with the chance to double the advantage.
After a quiet opening 35 minutes for the visitors, Salisbury sparked into life with efforts from Malachi Ogunleye and Ollie Morgan respectively, which were blocked and struck the post, following a cross that flashed across the face of goal. Tommy Willard further tested Harrison Foulkes soon after.
However, despite the momentary pressure, we doubled our advantage at a pivotal stage of the match just before the interval, as Brennan Camp headed home from close range from an inswinging Dennon Lewis corner to extend our lead in a richly deserved manner.
The visitors came out of the blocks quicker in the early stages of the second half, as Mohammed Dabre, who recently extended his loan from Sutton United until the end of the season, had a shot blocked from close range, before Ollie Morgan drilled an effort wide. Patrick Casey then came mightily close to doubling his tally for the afternoon with efforts from the edge of the box.
After a brief quiet period in the second half, both teams registered efforts on goal once more, as Joshua Hedges struck the ball over the bar from range and narrowly wide to the right of Harrison Foulkes’ post, while Dennon Lewis tested William Buse following a run from out wide.
Salisbury continued testing their luck with long-range efforts in the second half, including via Noah Coppin; however, Harrison Foulkes remained largely untested as we looked to hold onto the lead.
Near the end of the fixture, Jason Prior was on target to put the final nail in the coffin, as he struck a volley which was adjudged to have crossed the line following a Jimmy Muitt cross, ensuring a productive day for Wanderers.
Various stoppages in play in the second half contributed to a lengthy period of stoppage time; however, the game drew to a close in a quiet manner, sealing the three points.
The next challenge for the squad sees us travel to Torquay next Saturday for a tie against our fellow promotion competitors.