Two stunning goals give Salisbury hard fought win over Poole

Salisbury fought hard to do the league double over Poole Town at the Ray Mac on Saturday.

Two stunning goals, one in each half, from Aaron Simpson and Ryan Penny, gave Salisbury a second win over Poole in less than two weeks.

Matt Tubbs’ Poole arrived in poor form, having lost four on the bounce, but had the first chance of the game when, after six minutes, a poor Harry Lee clearance when outside of his box gave the away side a glimpse of a chance – which they were unable to take.

The game settled into a tactical battle with both sides probing and unable to make many inroads into either defence, and both ‘keepers had a quiet time up until the latter stages of the first half.

Salisbury then started to apply some pressure with 40 minutes on the clock. First, Dan Fitchett flashed a header over the bar and then came a moment of brilliance from full-back Simpson.

Jaden Perez played a well-weighted through ball, which Aaron Simpson raced onto. It sat up nicely, and Simpson connected with a thunderous half volley, which flew into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Poole almost levelled with seconds left in the half, but a good Harry Lee save and a half clearance saw the ball fall to a Poole player on the edge of the box, but his effort was headed clear off the line by a well-positioned Tom Leggett.

Poole started the second half brightly and had two chances to get back on level terms at the hour mark. First, Fogden and then Whisken were denied by a quick-fire double save from Harry Lee.

It proved to be a pivotal moment as almost immediately, Salisbury broke down the other end of the pitch, Harding playing in Ryan Penny who collected the ball on the left hand side of the box, turned back on to his right foot and curled a beauty into the far top corner in the 61st minute.

The away side saw lots of the ball, but again failed to really test Lee in the Salisbury goal, until the referee awarded a soft penalty to Poole in added time. It came when Tobi Holmes went down in the box under a challenge from Sido Jombati, who came away with the ball.

Holmes picked himself up to take the spot kick, but it was tame and well saved by Harry Lee.

Salisbury saw out the remainder of the added time, winning in front of 944 inside the Ray Mac.

Up next for second-placed Salisbury is a trip to third-placed Gosport Borough on Saturday, 17th February.

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