Andy Munns
Brian Dutton’s Salisbury team continued their unbeaten run to the start of the season at Walton & Hersham’s expense.
Salisbury celebrated their 1-0 win, after Aaron Simpson scored the game’s only goal late on, with the match played in sweltering heat.
An entertaining game was expected, with free-scoring Walton arriving at the Ray Mac having scored 21 goals in their first five fixtures; they had also conceded 10. Goals were expected.
That’s not quite how the game panned out, with the two sides holding each other at arm’s length for the first 20 minutes.
The heat was having its effect on the game, but the away side fashioned a chance, but Flaherty could only direct his shot straight at Gould after connecting with an Ilić cross on 19 minutes.
The sides continued to even each other out as the half progressed, with few clear-cut chances for either side, and it was goalless at halftime.
The second half saw a little more action than the first, with Salisbury’s forwards chasing and trying to create some luck.
Eight minutes into the second half, Gunson seized on a loose pass, but couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Then it was Fitchett to press; his block on Allen’s clearance in the Walton goal almost rebounded into the back of the net with 20 minutes left on the clock.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Salisbury enjoyed a period of pressure, with a succession of corners and then came the breakthrough.
Devon Arnold was the instigator, winning the ball in the middle of the park, and then some great interplay with Aaron Simpson allowed Arnold to tee up Simpson, who applied the finish after 82 minutes.
Salisbury were able to see out the game without concerning too much possession or coming under too much pressure from the visitors, seeing out the game 1-0 in front of 606 at the Ray Mac.
The result leaves Salisbury in fourth position in the league on 15 points from their seven matches, and Salisbury supporters are excited by what they are seeing.
After the match, Brian Dutton praised the character of his players, singling out Aaron McCreadie, who had to go off injured but had insisted on continuing.
Salisbury travel to Tiverton on Wednesday evening for their next league fixture, before the long trip to Mousehole on Saturday for their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round game.
Feature Image: Andrew Palk
