SALISBURY were dumped out of the FA Cup last weekend, losing 2-0 to Tiverton at the Ray Mac in the first qualifying round.
Last season the two teams met in the FA Trophy third qualifying round, and the Whites put in an exceptional performance to win 6-0.
They could not repeat those heroics at the weekend, with a disappointing display in front of an expectant home crowd.
The first half was an uneventful affair, with only a few half chances between the sides.
Salisbury came closest to breaking the deadlock when the Yellows back line was beaten with a deflection, but Blair, when through on goal, was superbly denied by Williams.
Blair was quickly back in the action again moments later, but for the wrong reasons this time, when he was shown a red card for what Tiverton called “a pretty gruesome” challenge on Yellows captain.
Stretching for the ball after a heavy touch he followed through on former Salisbury man Aaron Dawson, catching him just above the ankle.
Six minutes before half time the Yellows fashioned their closest opportunity to scoring thus far, after an outstanding flick by eventual opening goal scorer Matt Wright set Olaf Koszela free but the striker’s run was brought to a premature end with the linesman’s flag correctly raised for offside.
After three minutes stoppage, the half time whistle was blown for both sides to re-group.
The Yellows got the second half underway but still seemed to struggle to make their numerical superiority count.
Salisbury could have taken the lead eleven minutes into the half - Marvin Brooks was played through on goal with only Williams to beat but the Yellows ‘keeper managed to scramble the ball away from his feet.
The Yellows continued to press and started to find confidence and opportunities started to present themselves, Matt Wright fizzed a ball across the box but Koszela was just unable to reach it and provide the decisive touch.
With eight minutes to go and a replay on Wednesday at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium looking more than likely, man of the match Joe Belsten’s cross from the right found Matt Wright, who calmly slotted the Yellows in front for his third in two games.
The Yellows weren’t done though and when Tiverton won a corner Hayfield delivered a cross to find Koszela at the back post who nodded in Tiverton’s second and secured the win.
Salisbury return to league action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Kings Langley.
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