With a big squad, we travelled to Trojans for our last friendly before the league starts next week. The game started at quite a pace, with both sides passing the ball around quickly and crisply. It’s hard for me to decide who had more pressure in the first part of the game, but I’d probably go with Trojans, who seemed very dangerous on the counter attack, and were probably unlucky not to have more shots at goal. Their midfield passed the ball around incredibly well, something that we as a team have to do a lot more, and a lot better.

One thing that stood out from early on in the game, was the umpiring. I thought it was great and not only that, but all the players on the pitch were playing the game in the right manner……second week running and great to be part of.

Despite some good goalkeeping from Alastair Barrett, we found ourselves going a goal down, not really with or against the run of play. What was pleasing to see was the team’s reaction. To a man, we were all straight back at it, seemingly not affected by it at all. This might well have been one of our best periods of the game, but despite all the pressure, we still couldn’t make it pay in the goal department.

The second half seemed to carry on much as the first had…..at quite a pace. Although again we seemed to have plenty of sustained pressure, when the Trojans’ midfield came forward, their passing was neat, intricate and always finding their players’ sticks. Several times last ditch tackles were made by Salisbury defenders. But still, we were giving everything we had, with the entire team running their socks off, something very different to last week against Romsey. Still maintaining good pressure, I missed one of our best chances………..that’s why I’m not a forward, but luckily for me, shortly afterwards we converted a well worked goal. Trojans seemed more than a little deflated after this, and keeping the pressure up we managed to score a second shortly after, nicely worked, almost passed into the goal. This seemed to be the prompt that Trojans had been waiting for and they came at us all guns blazing in the last ten minutes. I can’t really remember us getting out of our own half, but we tackled, harried and chased down well, determined I think to close out the game. Unfortunately for us, a momentary lapse of  concentration left a Trojans forward free at the top of the D, who scored to level things up. With only a few minutes to go, it was us hanging on, which we did, albeit a little scrappily. My view….a great friendly game, well umpired, taken in the right spirit and probably the correct result.

Notable mentions…Kevin Parker for some great defending, and for what I thought were some brilliant passes. Alan Garrett for his goal (lucky!!!) and Nick Hillier, not only for his goal, but what I thought was an accomplished display at centre half, worthy of someone with many more years of experience at that position.

Well played Trojans. Good luck for next week – see you the week after for our league battle!

Next week……………….Blandford in the league!!! We have to meet at what time?