12.59

GOOD afternoon from the Butchers Arms Ground, home of Droylsden FC for Salisbury City's Blue Square Premier bow.

Kick off is just two hours away.

The Whites, who enjoyed an overnight stay nearby, have yet to arrive at the ground, which is in tip-top condition.

For the Bloods, like Salisbury City, this is a historic day as they prepare for life just one division off the Football League.

Droylsden boss Dave Pace has already indicated that his side are at full strength.

Nick Holmes meanwhile, is without suspended midfielder Danny Clay, the injured Ollie Barnes, and Charlie Knight who is suffering with glandular fever.

The weather is perfect - if a tad too warm at the moment! Some cloud is forming, as forecasted, though the threat of light showers later in the afternoon is looking unlikely.

Full team news to follow...

14.05

DARRELL Clarke will make his Salisbury City league debut in today's Blue Square Premier match at Droylsden.

Fellow summer signings Liam Feeney and James Bittner are both on the bench.

Matt Tubbs has recovered from his knee operation and starts up front with Robbie Matthews. Paul Sales is also on the bench.

City team: Ryan Clarke, Jon Bass, Matt Robinson, Aaron Cook, Tim Bond, Mike Fowler, Wayne Turk, Darrell Clarke, Robbie Matthews, Matt Tubbs, Luke Prince. Subs: James Bittner, Scott Bartlett, Liam Feeney, Paul Sales, Marvin Brown.

Major incidents/goal updates to follow...

14.35

IT's just 90 days since the Whites sealed promotion to the top flight of thr non-league game...and the wait for the big kick off in the Blue Square Premier is almost over.

City's players are being put through their paces under the watchful eye of Barry Blankley one last time as 3pm approaches.

Salisbury will now be in their all new blue away strip - not as in white as previously reported for the match against last season's Conference North champions.

Nick Holmes and his squad travelled north yesterday afternoon and arrived at a sun-drenched Butchers Arms Ground just before 2pm.

As posted earlier, City field a virtually full-strength side with Robbie Matthews partnering Matt Tubbs up front, 'Mooncat' being preferred to Paul Sales, who suffered a slight knock in training earlier this week.

14.42

Droylsden team: Paul Phillips (1), Ged Murphy (27), Liam Murray (30), Craig Robinson (16), Colin Cryan (4), Chris Denham (11), Gareth Morris (6), Jamie McGuire (8), Jamie Tandy (7), Terry Fearns (9), Steve Daly (10). Subs: Jody Banim (12), Danny Warner (3), Mark Hottie (2), Robin Gibson (15), Phil Senior (18 GK).

Match officials - referee: R. Joyce (Middlesbrough). Ass Refs. S. Clayton (Newton Aycliffe) and P. Davison (Stockton-on-Tees). 4th official: G. Johnson (Ormskirk)

14.54

2.56pm SALISBURY City skipper Aaron Cook leads his side out for their Blue Square Premier curtain-raiser with fellow newcomers Droylsden.

Cook and his team mates salute the City faithful behind the goal - and they respond with a hearty chorus of "When the Whites go marching in."

Referee Joyce from Middlesbrough calls the two skippers to the centre circle - Cook shakes hands with his opposite number - Droylsden keeper Phillips. City win the toss and stay where they are -the hosts will kick off.

31 secs. Matthews controls the ball well - Prince bursts through the middle and shoots - on target but lacking any venom, easy save for Phillips.

40 secs. Matt Robinson catches a Droylsden player late and receives a stern talking to but no card. The free kick (1.55secs)is eventually taken and sails straight to Ryan Clarke.

3.07. Matthews imposes himself and crosses, the ball cleared for the first corner of the match.

The ball is cleared, the hosts break, Matt Robinson ,already warned, receives a yellow card for a challenge on the edge of the box.

6 takes free kick straight at 6 man wall but Droylsden's Morris ploughs into the City players and is dismissed for an alleged stamp which prompts an 11 man fracas.

Six minutes gone and Droylsden are down to ten men. Welcome to the Blue Square Premier...

Eight minutes gone, City fans are singing "City's going up" as Luke Prince blasts over from an optimistic angle.

9.23. Another Droylsden fk (30 takes) Ryan Clarke claims comfortably.

10.48. City's passing finally got going - good possessio before Turk releases Prince, but scuffs his shot wide. Droylsden break quickly and clinically - Denham (11) shot flashes across the six yard box but no one is there to finish the move. City goal kick.

13.40. Prince crosses deep into box, Matthews can't quite connect with the header, gets in the way of Darrell Clarke running in at far post. D goal kick.

16.00 Despite being down to ten men the hosts are attempting to keep two up front when possible - D 7 Tandy plays Fearns (9) in on goal with a defence splitting pass, but Clarke is off his line quickly and saves at 9's feet.

17.34. another fk to D just inside their own half. 4 takes, forces throw. D get the ball in quick and 30 shows a nice touch to get past his marker, but his cross sails well wide.

Sun is shining - a few clouds hover ominously above - surely there'll be no rain today! The City faithful are in great voice - the hosts' supporters are still berating the ref for the dismissal - however everyone in the press box believes he spotted a definiate stamp on a City player and had no choice but to produce a straight red.

21.42. Another counter-attack and Bass makes a superb diving header to thwart the advance.

City respond in kind - great movement by Matthews, thens holds the ball up well for Fowler who finds Bass. On to Tubbs who slips past his marker - the cross is deflected clear.

23.40. D throw on the left wing, Bond clears for another throw.

24.00 City break - Tubbs to Clarke - plays it early Turk can't quite get there but D keeper scuffs his clearance. Asst ref awards fk to home team.

25.50. Fowler releases Prince, better cross this time but just too deep for Matthews. Gkick, Pause while D30 receives treatment.

Everyone takes the opportunity to grab a drink. Phew indeed. What an opening 25 minutes!

27.50. Tubbs cross is clkeared at the expense of a throw.

28.50. Ref halts game as D make a sub 3 on for 30. Matthews couldnt get to hopeful pass down left wing as play resumes.

30.10. Tubbs works hard to prevent goal kick, forcing a D throw near corner flag. City win a throw of their own from it.

Play witches wings, Prince delivers ball early but straight to keeper. D break again, Prince sprints back and recovers ball, wave played on although Prince looked to have been fouled.

31.52. Hopeful punt forward by D centre-back - again easy for Clarke.

32.23. City free kick just inside D half. Clarke (D) leaves for skipper Cook. Finds Matthews but defender clears only for ball to be put into danger area again - City deemed offside. Keeper takes FK inside his own box.

34.4. R. Clarke dives on ball to prevent a corner. Ball soon back in Cityt half however Tubbs caught late by D16 - another to receive stern talking to, but no card. Fkick poor.

36.30 better play by City - Fowler to Robinson to D. Clarke, back to Fowler and nice ball to Tubbs but the striker is at full stretch and loses possession. Cleared at expense of corner. Corner nothing special and D awarded goal kick.

39. Cook to Robinson, finds Matthews, better by Whites but final ball is weak once again.

39.33. Prince cross cleared.

40.00 Bond concedes throw as D press again down the left. Ball eventually finds it way back to R. Clarke. Long kick, cleared to half-way line. Long ball puts Ryan under pressure but is quick off line and clears powerfully, taking D player with him. D10 receives attention, temprarily down to 9 men, but win a corner on the right.

42.19 corner delivered but City break, Matthews powerful is fouled but plays on attempts to release Tubbs but fumbles pass, play not brought back for previous offence and D regroup.

44.12. D11 forces Robinson to concede another corner. 7 takes 16 wins header but under pressure by Bond heads well wide.

The fourth official signals 3 mins of added time as Tubbs and Prince combine well down the right. Prince crosses but ball is cleared only as far as Bass, who loses possession.

D 9 looks offside but not given - however a foul is as he goes down just outside City box.

Nerves a jangling so close to half-time. But poor fk sails over two-man City wall and wide. Clarke's goal kick ends the first half action!

HT 0-0.

Turk and Tubbs get second half underway fowler sends ball left, cleared, Fowler puts back in but Clarke is offside.

No changes at the break.

47. Fowler finds Tubbs down left wing but ball has crossed line before he can whip cross in. D again break very rapidly but Clarke is alert.

49. City throw deep in own half - filters through to Tubbs but move breaks down. Moments later Bass makes superb tackle at full stretch to halt a promising D attack. Bass clears again from the throw.

50. D throw near half-way line - Tommy Widdrington barking orders from near the press box - banished from dug out to the stands today due to suspension from last term.

51. Tubbs and Prince combine well down theright, but can't get cross in. Good defending by hosts.

52. Another poor ball from Prince - City need to connect passes better than this. Ryan Clarke off line promptly to snuff out a promising break by D.

53. City fk following offside decision. R. Clarke hits it long to Mtthews but wellied clear by defender back to the City keeper. Bass cross finds Matthews who wins knock down, no help for the big fella though and moment has gone.

54. Aaron Cook sends ball forward, Clarke does well to keep in and gets solid cross in, eventually comes to Tubbs but can't control.

55.14.D11 shoots but Clarke gathers. Quick City break, D for once look ropey at back and keeper off his line can't reach ball, Prince gathers but cross is blocked.

57. Bass throw to Tubbs, nice skill and the City striker forces a corner. Prince delivers - much better this time - Bond rises at edge of box and gets in a great header which sails just over the bar.

It's Prince's last touch of the game as Liam Feeney comes off the bench for his City league debut. Droylsden also make a switch - 12 replacing 9. 59 mins gone.

60. Matthews wins a throw - Clarke takes, short to Robinson - useful cross finds Tubbs who gets in a good header but just wide. Positive stuff by City.

63. Feeney delivers excellent cross with what must be his first touch. City looking in control now. Fowler to Robinson, first time cross but deflected to D keeper.

Great skill by Tubbs (worth a look on Setanta highlights surely!) crosses for Matthews.

65. D make another change 15 for 7 Tandy. Are the hosts settling for a point?

66. D.Clarke on top of his game - Turk to Bass, finds Feeney whose initial shot is deflected. Clarke distributes to Tubbs who unleashes fierce first time shot but ball is always going wide.

Play now at other end D have a free kick just outside City box.

Two-man wall. D12 takes, Tubbs clears back to 12D. D keep possession - though have to go back to keeper. His kick is too strong and it's a City throw half-way in their own half.

Bass to Matthews and back again. Feeney gets in on act again and looks menacing down theright. D keeper clears.

69 mins. Double substitution for the Whites - Sales for Matthews and Brown for Tubbs.

71. Cook free kick aimed for Sales, knockdown finds Feeney - to Fowler whose cross hangs in the air and D keeper under pressure by Bond drops. No foul, but keeper receives attention.

72. D long clearance gives City throw on the half-way line - out to Feeney but his cross isn't as good as recent one and ball whistles behind for goal kick. Keeper's kick is poor and Whites are on to it immediately resulting in Brown's snap shot, again wide of the mark.

73. Whites looking good. Bass to Feeney crosses. Sales wins header, Clark gets the knock down then sets up Sales for a shot - thunderous strike but bravely blocked. Turk and Fowler link well, Fowler sprays ball out left to Robinson, good delivery Sales heads but no power.

D break swiftly, long range strike not too far off target.

75.D 15 fails to connect when well-placed. Good chance. Clrake gets attack moving quickly. Robinson and Turk combine well this time, Brown lays it off for Turk - typical Turk striker, but thunders wide.

77. Mistake by Cook allows D 10 in, releases 11 but Cook makes amends.

78.Cook concedes corner. D12 takes, finds 10 who heads goalwards only for Clarke to fingertip over the bar for another corner. Scrambled clear again for another D corner.

81. Clarke long clearance to Sales. City keep possession and awarded free kick not far from Droylsden D. Fowler takes - shouts for hand ball but not given. Whites force corner on the left Fowler takes - D concede another corner on other side. Fowler takes, keeper misses but ball out for goalkick.

Seven mins left.

D win free kick just inside City half. 27 takes - too high for his target and Bond allows to go out for goal kick.

84. Clarke goal kick finds Sales - City keep ball and Feeney swings it back in but won't fall for Clarke who attempts scissor kick.

D 10 breaks but is a mile offside.

Into the last four mins and Sales is getting no joy from the ref who again punishes him for his jump even though there doesn't look to be any foul committed.

Bass sprays it to Feeney who sends it on towards Brown, does well to keep it in. Turk and Brown involved again and Folwer gets a shot off but wont trouble keeper.

83.30. City awarded free kick - D.Clarke takes Bond and Brown are in the thick of it, but it's cleared.

Calls for hand ball but not given.

Wayne Turk yellow carded after D break.

Lively end to game.

D free kick strikes wall.

Feeney cross to Turk, shoots on target but lacks venom.

Two mins added time.

Darrell Clarke also into book after clumsy challenge.

All over - 0-0. Points shared

Nick Holmes' reaction to City's goalless draw at Droylsden to follow...

9:57am Sunday 16th September 2007

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