Reece Barrett
Salisbury FC welcome National League South opposition to the Ray Mac this Saturday, as they host Slough Town in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round.
Slough play their football one division above Salisbury but have struggled to get going this season – they are currently 19th, having lost six of their first ten games.
They have also conceded 20 goals, the second-highest in the league and an average of two per game.
The match comes after Salisbury lost their first game of the season in all competitions on Tuesday – a 2-1 loss to Sholing FC, which ended their 11-game undefeated streak.
READ: Salisbury FC undefeated streaks ends with feisty Sholing loss
But despite the tough result midweek, Salisbury manager Brian Dutton remained very optimistic about the FA Cup clash, admitting that it would be a challenge but a way for his side to bounce back.
Dutton said: “It’ll definitely be a good test! Slough are a fantastic team.
“They’ve got a great core of players and then they’ve come and cherry picked the best talent from our league too. They will be a huge test for us, but the boys have been fantastic for me (this season) and I’m looking forward for them to get back out there and raise morale back up.”
Salisbury will have their work cut out for them at the Ray Mac as Slough are one of the best away teams in the National League South. They have only won three games so far this season, but two of those have come away from home.
Nathan Minhas will be the Slough player for Salisbury fans to watch out for. The 26-year-old striker joined from Beaconsfield Town in the summer after scoring 52 goals in the last two seasons of the Southern League Premier South.
He has already picked up five goals in all competitions this campaign too and was named in the FA Cup Team of the Round after scoring two goals against Hayes & Yeading.
Salisbury fans would have been delighted to see highly-rated youngster Carson Arnold score his first Wessex League goal on Wednesday.
The forward, who is dual registered with Laverstock and Ford, scored in Lavvy’s 7-1 loss against Moneyfields.
Listen to Salisbury for updates from the Ray Mac on Saturday afternoon as Andy Munns reports live on the game.
Andy Munns
