The Fleet’s unbeaten home record stretches into November as the home side showed the reaction Josh Wright was looking for to come away with a deserved three points against Salisbury.
The manager was forced to shuffle his side with injuries at the back so a clean sheet as well as the three points was an added bonus.
It was an attacking opening 10 minutes for the Fleet with Ronny Nelson coming close to his first goal in a Fleet shirt when a corner delivery from Ben Chapman was headed just wide.
The Fleet thought they had found the opener with eight minutes gone when Kwesi Appiah’s shot was turned in from close range by Dom Samuel but the Fleet’s number 14 was deemed to be in an offside position.
The attacking football continued for home fans as Finlay Barnes skipped through Salisbury’s midfield to release a ball into the path of Appiah – the Fleet captain rounded goalkeeper Will Buse 18 yards out and fired his shot toward the opposite corner but it bounced inches wide of the foot of the post.
Lennon Peake was next to try his luck from distance but that effort was tipped over by Buse while Nelson’s second headed effort towards goal was cleared. Samuel continued to find himself in good positions and had a couple more opportunities to score but found Buse in the way or else was just off target.
Salisbury got forward on the counter-attack and a free-kick whistled across Gio Bellagambi’s goal but the Fleet keeper wasn’t too busy, though had to be careful with a clearance as Tommy Willard intercepted.
Willard had the first chance of the second-half as well and it was Salisbury’s best, but Bellgambi produced an excellent save with his feet.
It took the Fleet 10 minutes of the second half to find the breakthrough. Chapman’s delivery into the area picked out Appiah who headed the ball on into the path of Jake Hessenthaler. The Fleet midfielder was able to get his head on to the ball to leave Buse little chance.
Hessenthaler came close to securing a second when Charlie Seaman’s low delivery skipped past the number 4 and was deflected out for a corner.
The Fleet were on the front foot looking to double their lead and a free kick in a central position following a foul on substitute Aaron Cosgrave gave Seaman a great chance but the Salisbury wall stood strong.
Salisbury looked more eager in the last 10 minutes with neither side sitting back but with the last kick of the match, the Fleet sealed it. Buse got in a mess trying to clear and substitute Maxx Manktelow was quick to intercept and try his luck from 30 yards, a low shot towards the open goal giving Fleet their second.
EUFC: Bellagambi, Seaman, Nelson, Olagunju, Chapman, Hessenthaler, Edser (Manktelow 88), Peake (Coker 88), Barnes (Kennedy 77), Appiah, Samuel (Cosgrave 77). Subs: Moncur, Coley, Cousins.
SFC: Buse, Revan, Sommerton, Lee (Hedges 46), Taylor, Davies, Keeya, Tustin, Morgan, Briggs (Bray 69), Willard (Coppin 61). Subs: Ngalo, Grubb, Revill, Sharlott
Attendance: 1,113 (79 away)
Photos: ©EUFC: Tom Harris, Ed Miller, Dave Plumb
