Salisbury win comfortably against 10-man Sholing

Salisbury secured a comfortable win against Sholing at the Ray Mac on Saturday after an excellent performance.

Salisbury were already two goals to the good before Sholing were reduced to 10 men through Jamar Smith and Noah Coppin. Charlie Gunson added the third to give Brian Dutton’s side a comfortable three points.

Salisbury were quick out of the blocks, pressing Sholing high up the pitch and controlling much of the ball.

It only took seven minutes for Salisbury to make the breakthrough. Jamar Smith cut in from the left-hand side with a couple of stepovers and drove the ball beyond the keeper into the far top corner.

Salisbury almost doubled their lead after 10 minutes as both fullbacks were causing problems.

The move started with good work down the left-hand side by Charlie Gunson; the ball was worked across the box to Tom Leggett. His effort was blocked and cannoned to Aaron Simpson, whose drive from 18 yards came back off the right-hand upright.

The chances kept coming for the home side. Salisbury created a great chance to double their lead. Charlie Gunson was put in behind the Sholing back line after a flick-on, he put the ball across the edge of the 6-yard box, half-cleared as Dan Fitchett raced in. It broke to Josh Hedges on the edge of the box, but his finish was poor, and the ball was cleared.

Following some good work through the middle from Ryan Penny, Dan Fitchett flicked his ball forward, and the assistant referee judged that Noah Coppin was onside and through on the keeper. Coppin slotted the ball low past to double Salisbury’s lead in the 26th minute.

Sholing started to come back into the game, seeing more of the ball. It was then that Salisbury struck again.

Sholing, already facing an uphill battle, then found themselves with an even bigger task as they were reduced to 10 men after 43 minutes.

Keane Anderson was shown a straight red card for a bad challenge on Noah Coppin as he broke away from his own box. Sholing’s side and their bench were growing frustrated at some of referee Callum Waller’s decisions, but this was a poor challenge.

Sholing made an instant change after the sending-off with Karlos Gregory replacing Luke Chalwell to reinforce the midfield, and it was Gregory who dwelled a little too long on the ball that led to Salisbury’s third in time added on at the end of the first half.

Charlie Gunson robbed Gregory of the ball after going shoulder to shoulder with the midfielder, he raced through on goal and finished well past Ryan Gosney in the Sholing goal to give Salisbury a 3-0 half time lead.

The second half was a much quieter affair, with Salisbury controlling much of the ball. The highlight was three quickfire chances with Gosney in the Sholing goal, denying the home side on each occasion.

First, Noah Coppin twisted and turned before forcing Gosney into a save. Salisbury retained possession from the save. This time, Charlie Gunson was denied by Gosney with his shot before Jamar Smith shot straight at Sholing’s ‘keeper.

Salisbury saw the game out comfortably, seemingly conserving energy ahead of Tuesday’s trip to face Poole Town for the rearranged fixture. It’s the first time they play Poole in a week and a half – sandwiching another away fixture on Saturday when they travel to Bracknell Town.