Blue Square Bet South (20.2.13)

Boreham Wood 1

Salisbury City 0

Whites’ team: Puddy, Wilson, Clarke, Dutton (c), Hart (Brett, 46), Lewis, Wellard, R.Sinclair, Frear (S Sinclair, 66), McPhee (Matthews, 53), White.

Subs not used: Fitchett and Udoji.

Att: 221.

SALISBURY City blew the chance to restore their lead at the top of Conference South after slumping to a fourth consecutive away defeat.

Chez Isaac’s 72nd minute goal separated the two sides and meant the Whites were the latest victims to walk away empty-handed from Meadow Park.

Considering Wood have only lost one home game all season, which came against Weston-super-Mare on December 1, it was never going to be an easy job for the old Sarum outfit.

But Salisbury entered the match in a buoyant mood after maintaining their unbeaten home record with a comfortable win over Billericay Town on Saturday.

Ryan Brett and Dan Fitchett made way in the line-up for Elliott Frear and Theo Lewis. During a frosty night in Essex, the visitors had a set of chances, which tested the Boreham defence.

On the stroke of half-time, Jamie White found himself in a one on one situation but couldn’t get the better of stopper James Russell. Then the hosts upped their game in the second-half and scrutinised City’s defence with some intelligent play.

And to Salisbury’s despair they found themselves behind, yet again, on their travels.

Graeme Montgomery’s inswinging cross was flapped by Will Puddy and Isaac brushed up on the error and tucked home into an empty net.

To add to Salisbury’s frustration they thought they had rescued a crucial point when White turned the ball home, but was incidentally flagged for offside.

Failing to find the net was the second time on the trot and are on level points with Welling, but their title-rivals have two games in hand.

Clarke admitted the defeat was a result of an individual error but is confident his side’s woeful away form will be rectified.

“We've got to brush ourselves down, keep going and push Welling all the way,” he said.

"It's always a concern losing games but I've been in football for 18 years and sometimes you don't get things dropping for you.

“It's down to an individual error so disappointing from our perspective, and I'm getting sick of hearing managers saying we're a very good side and the best side they've played against but coming away with nothing.

“It's a different sort of pressure for Welling now, we've been top for the past five months and Welling are in the ascendency but we'll keep driving and keep trying to win games.”

The Whites head to Lee Bradbury’s Havant & Waterlooville (3pm) on Saturday in search of their first away win of the year.