Salisbury FC kick off back-to-back away trips against Tiverton Town

Wednesday, 13 September 2023 01:00

Salisbury FC's week of back-to-back away trips kicks off with Southern Premier League South action against Tiverton Town tonight.

An unbeaten Salisbury side make the two-hour trip west, where they will defend both their eight-game run and the play-off place they currently occupy.

But the Whites will have no time to recover, as they have a 414-mile round trip ahead of them on Saturday when they travel to Mousehole AFC in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.

The effect of two long away trips was not lost on manager Brian Dutton, who said in an interview with the club: “It’s a gruelling week for us.

“Tiverton are a good, established team at the level, and they’re going to be a difficult test. And Mousehole are a division below (us), but they are a really ambitious team who are on the up. (Mousehole will be) another tough test for us.”

But turning attention back to tonight’s league game, Salisbury will fancy themselves favourites after last weekend’s massive 1-0 win against Walton and Hersham.

READ: Salisbury end Walton & Hersham's unbeaten streak

Salisbury handed them their first league loss since Boxing Day 2022 in front of a crowd 606 strong, and the three points acquired put them up to fifth place.

On the other hand, Tiverton - an established mid-table side finishing 13th and 12th in the last two seasons - has had an inconsistent start to the season.

They have not won a game in three and, most recently, were beaten 3-0 convincingly by Bracknell Town - a team that Salisbury play at the end of September.

However, they have not been defeated at home this campaign, and with Salisbury yet to lose in eight games, two unbeaten records are on the line tonight.

Tiverton may be without key midfielder River Allen, who has been sidelined with a concussion for the last two games, although no update has been given yet on his condition.