STRUDLEY KEEPS OUT THE WHITES
BASINGSTOKE and Salisbury played out a goalless draw to close out 2023, a result that helped the hosts more than the visitors.
Salisbury enjoyed the better of the first half and dominated possession throughout, but their chances to win the game largely came in the first half as Stoke tightened up to keep their opponents at arms length for most of the second.
Dan Fitchett headed wide early on for the away side who also had a strong-looking penalty appeal waved away as the forward tussled with Marcus Johnson-Schuster, but referee Daniel Lamport did point to the spot after 18 minutes as Billy Upton caught Josh Hedges on the byline.
Sido Jombati, prolific from 12 yards already this season, failed to outwit Paul Strudley and the keeper got down to hold the defender’s effort.
The hosts threatened occasionally on the counter, Brad Wilson cut inside, but a last-ditch block from Josh Sommerton – who went off injured later in the first half – kept the ball out. The Whites were inches away late in the first half as a curling 20-yarder from Wayne Robinson rebounded off a post and the final chance of the first period saw Fitchett drive wide.
The second half followed a similar pattern, but Salisbury failed to convert their possession into clear chances and the home side went closest as visiting keeper Lewis Gunstone-Gray denyied George Reid after a storming run from the winger and Billy Upton nodded narrowly past a post.
Salisbury’s best chance came with almost the last kick of the game when Harry Williams bent a shot around a motionless Strudley and inches past the foot of a post, leaving Basingstoke satisfied with a point.
Home boss Dan Brownlie felt a draw was fair and praised his side’s organisation and defensive solidity in earning a rare clean sheet even at the expense of some of his side’s attacking verve, saying: “We sacrificed some of our attacking power in playing George Reid and Brad Wilson on their unnatural sides.”