Salisbury's run in the FA Cup came to a premature end with a 2-1 defeat to Gloucester City at the Ray Mac this afternoon.

A second half header from tigers striker Luke Hopper proving the difference.

Hopes were high before kick-off that the whites would prove able competition against the National League North side.

But these thoughts quickly disappeared when Gloucester took the lead on the two minute mark after some sloppy defending from Salisbury.

The whites defenders failed to clear a cross, and the ball fell to Chris Knowles who on the half-volley slammed the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

Salisbury looked dejected and lacked ideas for a short period, but as the half progressed, the confidence and the quality of the build up play increased.

In the 33rd minute, the whites won a corner, and when Gloucester failed to clear, the ball fell into the path of Samuel Roberts who unmarked on the left hand side curled the ball past Jasbir Singh into the top right of the Gloucester goal.

Energised by their equaliser, the whites threw themselves into every move and tackle with an extra step.

But their momentum was checked when a flying elbow from Luke Hopper caught Stephen Walker, who was having a solid and assured performance up to that point.

The second half started with the whites again coming out of the blocks looking to attack at every opportunity, but Gloucester's back line held firm and soaked up any pressure.

On 54 minutes, Lewis Benson broke through the thin yellow line, leaving two defenders in his wake, before threading a ball through to Thomas Wright who shot painfully wide.

Wright was a thorn in the tigers defence throughout the afternoon, with his workhorse and never say die mentality troubling the visiting team.

Salisbury kept pressing, then, in the 79th minute and against the run of play, George Colson eagerly went for a ball and collided with Gloucester substitute James Fitzgibbon.

From the resulting free kick, Luke Hopper rose to head past the beleaguered Nathan Ball in the Salisbury Goal.

The unexpected score unsettled the whites, and they were unable to respond as Gloucester played tentatively as they had done for much of the afternoon, assuring their progress to the next round.