Reece Barrett
Salisbury kick off their FA Cup campaign in the first qualifying round, where they host Somerset-based Bridgwater United at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
Despite playing their football two divisions below Salisbury’s level, Bridgwater will not be a walkover for Brian Dutton’s side.
They came into the competition in the extra preliminary round, and they have already won two games to get to this stage – beating Liskeard Athletic and Street and scoring eight goals in the process.
Bridgwater have also started their league campaign in incredible fashion – they won their opening game 8-1 against Millbrook, have won three of their first five and have only lost one match.
Their best ever run in the FA Cup came in the 1961/62 season, when they beat Bath City and Weston-super-mare to eventually be knocked out of the second round by Crystal Palace
Salisbury have also started strongly this season, remaining unbeaten in six games and sitting in sixth place in the Southern League Premier South.
The Whites come into the game after conceding a late 97th minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw against competitive rivals Winchester City last weekend.
Speaking to Salisbury Radio after the game, Dutton admitted that his squad were tired towards the end of the Bank Holiday double header, saying: “Having two games in the space of 48 hours caught up with us.
“We weren’t able to do the things that we naturally do, (we didn’t) get to the ball and put pressure on it, we were a little bit leggy and fatigued.”
There will be doubts over Josh Hedges’ fitness, after he was forced off last weekend with an ankle injury caused by a dodgy landing on uneven surface.
It remains unknown whether he will be able to feature – but Salisbury are boosted with Josh Sommerton being available for selection after he returned from injury in the Winchester game.
The club were aiming for this Bridgwater game to be his first game back, but Sommerton was fitter faster than expected and came on to replace Hedges last weekend.
Andy Munns
