Salisbury Score Five as Pre-Season concludes with thumping win

A comfortable evening and a second-half hat-trick from Nathan Odokonyero made sure Salisbury put on a five-star performance to defeat Havant & Waterlooville in their last pre-season fixture.

The Whites started how they meant to go on, creating plenty of goal-scoring opportunities early doors.

Forward Jaiden Bartolo was particularly busy in the opening half-an-hour, creating an early chance for Luke Russe, which was intercepted, coupled with a few chances of his own that threatened to ripple the net.

It didn't take long for Salisbury to find the opener through Jordan Alonge for his first goal in home colours after Luke Russe found the midfielder's run with a first-time through ball.

The intensity did not waver in the opening 45, as just before the half-time whistle Josh Hedges doubled our advantage.

The winger rounded the keeper after touching down an impressive pass from new recruit Dan Ellison over the visitors' midfield and defensive line.

With the Whites taking complete control, Brian Dutton opted to make three changes at the interval, and substitute Salisbury's top goalscorer of pre-season in Nathan Odokonyero.

And in true Odokonyero fashion, he was able to pop up with a goal and the Whites's third goal of the game, after Alonge floated a ball to the back-post to Bartolo, who headed it across the face of goal for Odokonyero to beat the keeper and tap home on the goal line.

After getting a well-deserved assist, Bartolo made way for Robbie Gallagher just before the hour-mark.

As the Salisbury faithful thought the game began to wind down, Gallagher sprang into action after a 1-2 with Alonge down the left-hand side left him battling with his marker, but Gallagher got the better of him and was taken down to the ground by the Havant defender, with the referee blowing his whistle for a penalty.

An in-form Odokonyero stepped up, gave the keeper the eyes and slotted it into the bottom-left corner for his brace.

But Salisbury were not done there, as an almost identical situation presented itself, with Gallagher playing another give-and-go with Trialist A down the left wing, and was deemed to have been taken down by the opposition defender for another spot-kick.

And once again, Odokonyero was not going to let the opportunity for a first hat-trick for the club go by.

The number nine stepped once more a quarter of an hour later, opting this time for the right side of the net to bag his hat-trick and our fifth of the game.

Salisbury now prepare for their first competitive game of the season as the National League South gets underway this coming Saturday, 8th August. They welcome Hampton & Richmond to the Ray Mac for a 3 pm kick-off. 

Supporters are reminded that the Ray Mac is now a cashless stadium and that tickets need to be purchased before heading to the turnstiles, either online in advance, or from the club's ticket office.