BREAKING: More late-night drama as Salisbury and Didcot Town draw

Salisbury was unable to win the game outright for the second time in a row due to late drama, as struggling Didcot Town managed to steal a late draw at the Ray Mac.

The Whites made three changes to their lineup: Charlie Gunson returned to the starting lineup, while Owen Dore was moved to the bench. Harrison Lee and Noah Coppin were sidelined last week and were replaced by Alex Rutter and James Harding.

Both teams had a strong start to the match, and the first goal came in at the nine-minute mark.

After Aaron Simpson of Salisbury lost possession in the right back area, Sam Barder received the ball and launched a 30-yard piledriver that left Rutter with no chance.

The Whites responded well to falling behind, and after regaining possession in the midfield, Wayne Robinson missed a near-post shot on 13 minutes and Leigh Bedwell had to block it around the post seven minutes later.
However, the home team’s equalizer did come on minute 26. After some good forward play by Harding to track down Ryan Penny’s ball into the channel, he was able to play the ball across, and Gunson finished with a powerful left-footed shot.

The remainder of the half was fairly evenly balanced; Josh Hedges of Salisbury, playing against his old team, struck Bedwell with a weak shot, while Adam Learoyd of Didcot headed a long throw over the bar.

Just before the half, Learoyd again had a chance for the visitors, but his effort cleared the bar, and the side went into halftime level pegging.

Both sides had half-chances in the opening moments of the second half, with Gunson for Salisbury missing wide and Rutter comfortably stopping another Learoyd header. The home team had their best chance of the half at 56 minutes in when Penny won the ball in midfield and fed it to Robinson, whose ball across the goal’s face nearly gave Harding a touch.
After an hour, the Whites were beginning to take control of the game; Hedges was making a good effort to sting Bedwell’s palms before there were two opportunities on minute fifty-eight.

Before Harding eventually headed wide from six yards out, he first saw his shot blocked behind for a corner, which was played in amid shouts of handball.

After Didcot was able to lessen the intensity of the match and limit the Whites’ opportunities, the game calmed down.

Hedges missed a long range shot after seventy-two minutes, and then Bedwell had to deflect Gunson’s 25-yard attempt around the post after eight minutes.

In the final ten minutes, the opposition managed to create two half-chances, which Rutter handled with ease, before What appeared to be the winning goal was grabbed by Salisbury in the first minute of added time.

Gunson managed to outpace a few defenders while moving down the right side, and Harding deftly backheeled in his ball.
But just like they did at Gosport last week, the Whites lost a set piece equalizer in the final moments of the match.

A long pass from the right side was eventually received by Cameron McNeill, who scored a point for his team by bundling it in from close range.