ROBBIE Matthews made an immediate impact in Salisbury City's play-off semi-final first leg at Bishop's Stortford, coming off the bench to score the goal that left the contest between two football-minded sides evenly balanced.

The near-perfect surface at Bishop's Stortford's Woodside Park ground was very much to Salisbury's liking on Wednesday evening, and a pulsating end-to-end tie delighted the 1,049-strong crowd.

After a goalless, but highly entertaining first half, the Blues broke the deadlock on 54 minutes when Greg Pearson reacted first after Craig Edwards' shot was blocked by Tim Bond.

Substitute Matthews made his regular entrance on the hour mark in place of the tiring Paul Sales and with almost his first touch had the Whites back on level terms, making the most of a Luke Prince cross into the box.

However, City had Matt Robinson to thank for a desperate saving clearance soon after when Pearson looked to have got the better of Ryan Clarke again.

"It was quite an exciting game," said Robinson afterwards.

"I think, in the end, we deserved to win it, but the draw is still a good result for us and it sets things up perfectly for the weekend."

Not a single yellow card was brandished during the match, which was excellently handled by Winchester referee Will Bull.

He ensured the game flowed freely and with both sides committed to attack, many observers have already put the contest forward as one of City's games of the season.

"When you're out there playing, you're concentrating on doing your own job," added Robinson, who, during his time at Reading, was once on the losing end of the play-offs.

"But I was aware that things were flowing quite nicely and I'm sure both sets of fans will have gone home fairly happy.

"The semi-final legs of play-offs are always tense - especially if the second one ends up going to the death.

"I've lost in a play-off final before at Reading and that's really hard to take. I've already got plenty of good and bad memories of play-offs - but I'd like a few more good ones!"

In contrast, it was City striker Matt Tubbs' first experience of the end of season drama.

He posed a threat to the home defence all evening but, unfortunately for the Whites, was unable to find the net.

"I suppose it was quite a good game, but it was all about the result for me. Bishop's Stortford are a good footballing side and they have a very nice pitch to play on in contrast with some we've seen but, once we got our goal, we were all over them and we could and should have won it in that last 20 minutes.

"It was my first experience of a play-off and it was enjoyable in the sense that we did what we came here to do."

2:38pm Thursday 10th May 2007

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