TWO second half goals may have brought Salisbury City's gallant FA Cup run to a halt, but their players were saluted as heroes at the end of Tuesday night's replay at Nottingham Forest.
Goals by Nathan Tyson and Nicky Southall had earned the former European champions a plum home tie with Premiership side Charlton Athletic, but Whites had not been overwhelmed by a team more than 75 places above them.
Cheered on by more than 1,100 supporters among the crowd of 6,177 at the City Ground, Salisbury had battled bravely to go in at half-time still on level terms in a match televised live by Sky Sports.
Forest had squandered a number of chances before Tyson finally broke the deadlock on 53 minutes.
Despite City's willingness to attack, they failed to net an equaliser and their hearts were broken ten minutes from time when, despite strong appeals for offside, Southall's goal was allowed to stand.
City boss Nick Holmes said he was very proud' of his team and the club's supporters who'd made their FA Cup adventure one to remember.
Report, reaction and photos to follow...
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