SALISBURY City’s FA Cup dreams were left in tatters by Team Bath at Twerton Park on Saturday, as the students from the University of Bath gave City a lesson in how to finish a game off.

Despite having the lion’s share of possession and being presented with a number of clear-cut chances by the home side’s sometimes erratic defending, the Whites, who have now lost their last seven games on the trot, could not find a breakthrough.

City could have gone ahead as early as the sixth minute as Matt Tubbs found himself through on goal, only to have his effort blocked by Alex McCarthy, who was making his debut in goal for Team Bath after arriving on loan from Championship high-flyers Reading.

Tubbs was wasteful of two more chances in the first half, though neither were easy. The first came after good work on the right from Andy Sandell, but saw Tubbs drag his shot wide from the edge of the area, and the second was a volleyed effort that went over the bar.

At the other end, aside from a moment in the 15th minute when the lively Josh Llewellyn worked himself an opening, the Salisbury back four of Matt Robinson, Aaron Cook, Sean Clohessy, and Jon Bass looked composed.

Team Bath never really threatened and it was testament to City’s control of the game that James Bittner in the Salisbury goal was not required to make a save for the entire first half.

However, it is goals that win games and the longer the game went on, the more it seemed that Salisbury lacked the creativity to break down the home defence.

With the second half going much the way of the first, City boss Nick Holmes made a change – bringing on Liam Feeney for the hard-working Charlie Griffin.

The substitution seemed to have the desired effect, with Feeney giving the Whites the width that their attacking play had been missing.

Within minutes of joining the fray, Feeney went close – blazing a shot just wide from the edge of the area.

After providing a chance for Sandell, Feeney went close again, as his looping header sailed over McCarthy only to be cleared off the line by Matt Lock.

With Salisbury pressing for the breakthrough, the home side looked content to play long balls out of defence to exploit the pace of their lone striker Llewellyn. It was one such long ball that led to the hosts taking the lead as a clearance deep into the Salisbury half was not dealt with by Clohessy.

Having let the ball bounce, Clohessy was out-muscled by Mike Perrot, who then played a ball down the right touchline to Rob Hobbs.

Hobbs’ cross found the unmarked Team Bath sub, Shaun Bennison, and he coolly slotted the ball under Bittner and into the far corner of the net.

The goal seemed to give City some urgency and, as they threw themselves forward, gaps emerged in the Whites’ defence which saw Team Bath nearly double their lead.

A pass back to Bittner was charged down by Llewellyn and the keeper’s clearance cannoned off the advancing striker and bounced towards goal. Fortunately, Cook was alert to the situation and slid the ball behind.

As the final minutes ticked away, Salisbury searched desperately for an equaliser.

Sandell failed to get on the end of a tantalising cross from Feeney, Feeney himself had a shot blocked, and, in the very last minute, Tubbs dragged a shot wide.

The home side weathered these final attacks and held on to book their place in the first round proper.

Team Bath’s reward for their heroics is a home tie with Forest Green Rovers, but, for Salisbury, the future is not so bright. They face Blue Square Premier high-flyers Crawley Town at home tonight, and, with the cup defeat taking City’s current run to seven straight defeats and no resolution to their financial woes, the coming months could be bleak for Whites’ fans.