BATTLING Salisbury City left it late, but they halted an alarming run of four straight defeats after storming back from 3-0 down to early season strugglers Altrincham to share the spoils in a dramatic 3-3 draw, writes Mike Turner.

A final 20-minute frenzy produced the three goals required to spare the hosts' blushes, and they could even have completed a memorable comeback - just as Burton Albion had done at their expense just a week earlier.

Two Marvin Brown goals either side of one from Luke Oliver restored their pride, but many of the City supporters among the lunchtime crowd of 1,257 will wonder why it took them so long against a side who've only just taken their points tally into double figures.

Manager Nick Holmes was forced to shuffle his pack after two key players - Aaron Cook (calf) and Robbie Matthews (virus) - were ruled out.

Tim Bond replaced the City skipper in defence, while Marvin Brown started in attack alongside Matt Tubbs, who had the ball in the net inside 45 seconds, only for his effort from a long-throw by Scott Bartlett to be ruled out for offside.

For more than half-an-hour Whites looked comfortable and it seemed only a matter of time before one of their chances would find the net.

Liam Feeney had started lively while Tubbs never stopped working against the Cheshire side who almost went behind on 16 minutes when a terrific Mike Fowler goalbound strike was deflected around the posts for a corner.

Just a minute later another creative burst by Feeney almost put Tubbs in - Altrincham 'keeper Richard Acton getting the better of the Salisbury striker.

Bartlett was the next recipient of a fierce Feeney cross on 22 minutes, but again the alert Acton thwarted City's attempt to break the deadlock.

Jon Bass and Tubbs linked well just past the half-hour mark before Tubbs showed quick feet and produced a delightful pass for Feeney, whose run and cross was headed wide by that man Tubbs. The move deserved a better ending, but moments later Whites were hit by a bolt from the blue.

There looked to be no danger when James Dean picked the ball up just inside the City half - however, he was given far too much time and space and, with Ryan Clarke off his line, hit a speculative strike goalwards which dipped at just the right moment, shaving the bar on its way into an empty net.

Against the run of play it may have been, but Whites were then further adrift as Clarke was adjudged to have caught Altrincham's Chris Senior as the custodian raced off his line to stop another attack.

Jake Sedgemore made no mistake with the spot kick and from being in control of the contest, Whites were suddenly on the ropes.

Two minutes into the second half, it certainly looked as if it wasn't going to be City's day. Bass found Tubbs, who despite being well-placed to shoot, unselfishly squared it to his co-striker, but Brown's effort resulted only in an embarrassing air-kick.

Whites' management ordered a prompt change around and a double substitution saw Danny Clay, now available after serving a three-match ban, and the out of favour Luke Prince, on for Mike Fowler and Bass.

Just before the hour-mark, a Brown shot flashed wide after a promising move involving Clay, Matt Robinson, Darrell Clarke and Tubbs.

Prince quickly got in on the act and after a good run found Bartlett whose cross was aimed for Brown.

But as Whites pressed to get back in the game, Altrincham demonstrated they were capable of catching them on the break and only the crossbar saved City when Joseph O'Neil's 65th minute strike had left Clarke beaten.

It was a let-off for Whites but when they failed to clear their lines again moments later, the writing was on the wall.

Despite strong appeals for offside, Senior kept his cool to put Altrincham three goals to the good.

To their credit Salisbury continued to press and they should have had a penalty when a rapid 70th minute attack involving Prince and Tubbs ended with Prince being upended in the box.

However, referee Andy Bennett awarded only a corner but justice was at least seen to be done when Brown got on the end of Feeney's perfect deli-very to reduce the arrears.

Defender Luke Oliver, who might have started up front in place of Matthews had it not been for Cook failing a fitness test, was now the target for every Salisbury pass.

Route one football may not be pretty, but with time running out it, it proved the correct option as Whites piled on the pressure in the hope of salvaging something from a game that had looked beyond them.

Tubbs shot wide, another long throw by Bartlett was cleared, Tubbs and Prince linked well again and shouts for a handball in the Altrinc-ham box fell on deaf ears.

Three minutes from time Prince's corner was headed home by Oliver and seconds later the comeback was complete when Brown bagged City's third, again with a header.

Whites weren't settling for a draw - but despite more good work by the likes of Prince, Tubbs, Clay and Clarke, the visitors defended like demons and somehow survived three minutes of added time to leave Wiltshire with a point.

6:08pm Sunday 14th October 2007

Print

Email this