The Whites were defeated 1-0 by Bath City in the first evening kick-off of the Enterprise National League South.
The game started at a fast pace, with both sides vying for the upper hand. Salisbury seeing most of the ball, but Bath is posing a threat on the counterattack, with Brad Ash and Alex Fisher looking to combine at every opportunity.
In the 10th minute, Evander Grubb spotted the run of Matty Taylor in the visitors’ penalty area, Taylor’s strike was eventually blocked out for a Whites’ corner.
Four minutes later, once again, Grubb spots Taylor. The youngster lofted a long and diagonal ball towards the front man, who took it down well. Taylor then played a one-two with Briggs and produced a cross, but Harvey Wiles-Richards in the Bath goal claimed confidently.
The visitors then went through their best spell of the game, and Bath were able to push Salisbury on the back foot for a ten-minute period before halftime.
In the 40th minute, Will Jenkins-Davies converted calmly past Buse to open the scoring.
Dutton’s side responded immediately, charging forward. Grubb worked some space outside the Romans’ box, but his effort was too high to trouble the goal.
The home side rushed into the changing room as the referee blew for the interval.
Just after the break, in the 48th minute, Jordan Ngalo won the ball on the halfway line and drove into the box. The midfielder’s shot went whiskers wide of the far post.
The pressure continued as Matt Briggs caused Bath an issue down the flank, the wide man fired a low-driven cross towards the six-yard box, however, Wiles-Richards was able to deal with it.
Minutes later, the wide man went close. Owen Dore sprayed the perfect pass into the path of Briggs, and he cut in and fired marginally over. The signs were promising for the home side.
In the 71st minute, Brad Ash found himself space to drive into the Salisbury box; his attempt was pulled just wide of the far post.
Salisbury’s next real chance came when second-half substitute Noah Coppin bore down on goal in the 79th minute. The forward was denied by a top reaction save from Wiles-Richards.
The remaining ten minutes of normal time saw the hosts all over the visiting side; however, no chances presented themselves.
In the final minute of the additional five, Will Buse skied the ball into the dark night sky after coming up for the corner, and the Romans hung on and secured the points.
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