Salisbury City 4 Lowestoft Town 1

It could be argued that the Blues were without the spine of the team with keeper Andy Reynolds (injured), central defender Greg Crane (suspended). central midfielder Dale Cockrill (ill) and striker Matt Nolan (injured) but you would not have known it from the performance.

Lowestoft made an excellent start moving ahead in the 10th minute with a goal of real quality. Adam Smith’s throw in from the half way line went to Andrew Fisk. His cross field pass picked out Lubo Guentchev who threaded a perfectly weighted ball through for Michael Frew to use his pace to get past Daniel Webb and place the ball past keeper Simon Arthur into the net.

Salisbury had carried no real threat but were gifted an equaliser when a high ball into the penalty area was collected by Shaun Phillips but the 17 year old let the ball slip from his hands to present a simple tap in for Daniel Fitchett. Salisbury moved ahead in the 32nd minute when a left wing corner was flicked across the face of the goal by Jake Reid for Chris Giles to head home from close range at the far post.

The rest of the first half saw the Blue Square Bet South side penned in their own half, with efforts from Jamie Forshaw and Scott Mitchell inches off target and a tremendous 30 yard drive from Andrew Fisk producing an equally outstanding save from Arthur.

Lowestoft came under a spell of pressure at the start of the second half and Phillips saved well from Fitchett but it was soon a case of the Blues pressing forward. An excellent cross from Joe Francis picked out Fisk whose downward effort was saved by Arthur who then held efforts from Guentchev and Stuart Ainsley.

A rare Salisbury attack earned them a corner from which Phillips produced an outstanding save to keep out Giles’ close range header. With the game coming to an end Lowestoft threw caution to the wind as the pushed every one forward in search of an equaliser. With the game entering the 1st of 5 added minutes a quick break saw Charlie Knight send Fitchett through to shoot past the exposed Phillips and in the final minute the same player was sent through again to complete his hattrick with a similar finish.

Terry Lynes