FOR once Matt Tubbs' golden touch deserted him as the Salisbury City striker scuffed a last gasp opportunity to guide the Whites into the first round proper of the FA Cup for the second season running.

After the referee's assistant had indicated that Stevenage Borough's Mark Arber had handled on the line, Tubbs dragged the 88th minute penalty wide of the mark to leave a highly entertaining cup tie goalless.

Sure, it would have been an injustice - Stevenage Borough had already squandered numerous chances to put the Saturday's fourth qualifying round contest beyond the hosts - but many a famous cup run has been built on such moments.

The Hertfordshire side, who had ironically knocked the Whites out of the FA Trophy last season en route to their Wembley triumph, more than deserved a replay but should have been made to pay for the defensive slip after Whites pressed for a late winner.

City had started positively and just about edged a tense first 45 minutes.

Oli Barnes' fourth minute overhead kick was comfortably saved by James Russell, who was forced to hastily clear his lines six minutes later as Robbie Matthews bore down on goal. From Ian Herring's long throw, Matthews fired over the bar after skipper Aaron Cook had hooked the ball back into the danger zone.

Whites had half a shout for a penalty just moments later as the hosts continued to press.

But it wasn't all one-way traffic.

Borough were always a threat on the break, but some woeful finishing let them down.

Steve Morison, so effective against City in last season's Trophy clash, shot well wide, while Daryl McMahon at least forced Ryan Clarke to make a save.

On 25 minutes, City again had an appeal for a penalty turned down when a Liam Feeney shot, following good build-up play by Andy Sandell and Marvin Brown, appeared to have been handled by a Borough defender.

Luke Oliver, a Salisbury star just weeks ago during his loan spell at Old Sarum, was lucky to escape with only a talking to after a clumsy challenge on Matt Robinson.

A push on Matthews as the ball headed his way from a Scott Bartlett long throw also prompted strong claims for a penalty, but again referee Darren Sheldrake was having none of it.

Ryan Clarke had to be alert as Borough broke again shortly before half-time, but Whites - missing the likes of Jon Bass, Tim Bond and Mike Fowler through injury - could feel pleased with their first half efforts.

Substitute Luke Prince was sent on at the start of the second half for the tiring Sandell, seemingly struggling with the virus that has hit the club recently.

Whites were soon on the back foot - Bartlett received a yellow card after being forced to concede a free kick not far from the City box. Stevenage's Stuart Lewis proved no better a marksman than his team mates, drilling the ball well wide of the four-man wall and the goal.

Tubbs was introduced on 58 minutes, the largely ineffectual Brown making way.

But it was Stevenage who were now looking the most likely to break the deadlock.

Borough sub Paul Hakim went the closest yet, rattling the City crossbar with a long range effort that had caught Clarke in no man's land. The ball was then scrambled clear at the expense of a corner.

Wayne Turk, available again after serving a three-match suspension, came off the bench for Herring on 67 minutes as manager Nick Holmes looked to inject some bite into what had proved a rather tame City midfield.

The visitors were now bossing the centre of the park and set up attack after attack, blunted only by some dire finishing.

Hakim smashed the ball into the side netting when well-placed and McMahon fired straight at Clarke, who was to make another couple of important stops before Whites were handed a golden chance to ensure their name went into the first round draw.

Prince, now operating on the opposite wing, having swapped with Feeney, linked well with Turk before crossing for Tubbs whose header prompted a superb save by Russell, the custodian palming the ball over the bar for a corner.

Salisbury kept up the momentum and there were highly vocal shouts for a penalty when Borough skipper Mark Arber looked to have handled the ball on the goalline as Tubbs and Oliver attempted to turn the corner into the net.

Referee Sheldrake consulted his assistant, who confirmed the infringement.

Tubbs, so often clinically accurate from the spot, stepped forward, hoping to bank his seventh goal of the campaign and earn Whites £10,000 from the round's prize fund and the prospect of further riches in the first round proper.

However, a return to Broadhall Way - the venue at which Tubbs had fired Whites so dramatically into the Blue Square Premier by scoring a late winner in the Conference South play-off final against Braintree last May - was back on the agenda, as the striker scuffed the earth attempting to place the ball out of the reach of Russell.

It was a thrilling, if somewhat deflating way to end a cup tie, which had indeed been high on drama, but one in which Whites had ridden their luck on too many occasions.

1:34pm Wednesday 31st October 2007

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