Salisbury FC strive to extend streak in league match against Sholing

Tuesday, 26 September 2023 01:00

Salisbury FC travel to Sholing FC tonight with the hopes of remaining the only undefeated team in the Southern League Premier South.

Last weekend, an emphatic 2-0 win for Salisbury over Bracknell Town saw their unbeaten run extend to 11 games in all competitions, keeping them high up the table in 3rd place.

On the other hand, Sholing have lost their last six successive league games and are yet to pick up a point in September.

But despite their rocky form, Salisbury manager Brian Dutton remained apprehensive about the match, citing that the conditions of their stadium may make it hard to play their normal style.

Dutton said: "It's a tough place to go. The pitch will be testing for how we like to play football, and Sholing are a well-equipped team.

"They will be physical, and they'll ask questions (of us)."

Sholing, who are based in Southampton, are currently positioned in 16th, but they may be an unfamiliar name even to those who are Southern League Premier aficionados.

The 2013/14 FA Vase winners made history last season as they were promoted to a Step Three division for the first time ever.

Sholing finished 2nd in the Southern League Division One South and beat Hamworthy United 2-0 in the play-off final in front of a record home attendance of 1,289.

They are navigating through their inaugural campaign under Dave Diaper, the longest-serving manager in the league, having joined Sholing in 1999.

Sholing have only picked up nine points and won them all in three consecutive wins, beating Winchester, Plymouth and Hayes & Yeading in August. They have not won a point since August 20th.

This will be the first time that Salisbury FC and Sholing have met in league competition since the 2015/16 season. Both teams were in the Wessex Premier League for that campaign: Salisbury finished 1st and Sholing were 20 points behind in 2nd.

FA Trophy Draw

The draw for the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy has been made. Salisbury will travel to Gosport Borough with the match due to be played on Saturday 7th, October.