Southern League Division 1 S&W
Bridgwater Town 1, Salisbury 3

TWO penalties from Salisbury’s leading scorer Tommy Wright helped consign Bridgwater Town to another home defeat on Saturday, but not before they had once again staged a late surge to spoil the Whites' clean sheet, writes Kerry Miller.

The visitors, managed by TV pundit and ex-Premier League striker Steve Claridge, were without prolific striker Justin Bennett, who has more than 500 goals so far in a fine career, but predictably they were too strong for Craig Laird’s young side, who battled well but had their first shot on goal with 15 minutes left, by which time they were 3-0 down.

The Robins might have thought they had a break inside two minutes when the visitors’ Sam Roberts was carried off with ankle damage, but it brought on Chris Onoufriou, and the former Tiverton man made his presence felt with four fouls in 10 minutes.

He was eventually booked, but not after Claridge had shown why many assume his charm school was bombed, by moaning his way through the game.

Town wasted far too many balls with aimless passing on what is currently a poor pitch, until Syd Camper and George Kellow combined, but they were crowded out.

Kieran Parselle volleyed over, then Onoufriou did similar, until Brandon Mundy evaded two fouls but succumbed to the third, inside the area from Mike Duffy, and Wright put away the spot-kick a little short of the half-hour.

Home keeper Liam Kingston saved well from Tom Whelan and Mundy, but Town conceded again just before the break when Tom Richens pulled back Wright, who again scored from the spot.

There was some good news when it came through that Taunton Town were 6-0 up at Wantage Town at half time, but Salisbury started well again – Whelan hit the bar and George Colson had a header cleared off the line.

Town continued to battle without creating very much and it was all over with 18 minutes left when Lewis Benson’s free-kick was nodded home by Mundy to make it 3-0.

Elliot Ripley’s good work found Kellow soon after and his shot was well saved by Alex Bass, from the Robins' first shot, and ironically minutes later referee Tim Burley spotted some shirt tugging in the Salisbury box, and the game’s third penalty was tucked away by Camper with six minutes left.

Substitute Jorden Lovibond then went on a fine run and all but supplied Camper, and Harry Horton did likewise, but sadly both came to nothing and Salisbury took the points home.

AFC Totton, Paulton Rovers and Barnstaple are 10 points ahead of Wantage and Bridgy at the foot of the league, with the Robins' next match at Slimbridge on Tuesday, December 27 at 3pm, and not Boxing Day as advertised.

Bridgwater: Liam Kingston, Tyne Govier, Kurt Robinson, Elliot Ripley, Callum Laird, Tom Richens, Will Seddon-Coombes, Mike Duffy, Syd Camper, Harry Horner, George Kellow. Subs used: Ollie Morris, Jorden Lovibond, Jake Horsey.