Salisbury Preview plus progress in Senior Cup

After an unbeaten run which extended to 10 games thanks to the 3-0 win over Barrow and progression into the semi-final of the Herts Senior Cup, Boro make a trip to Wiltshire to face Salisbury City. Boro are one of the form teams of the league, while City are struggling at the other end of the BSP table and have yet to score, let alone win in 2009. Their last 3 games have ended in defeat against Oxford, Burton and lastly Kettering after a 97th minute winner for the Poppies. After a bright start to the season, financial problems hit the Whites and star players such as Matt Tubbs, Liam Feeney and Andy Sandell have departed the club for League clubs. Since then the team has struggled to recover and find themselves facing a relegation scrap in the coming months.

Last season we played Salisbury 4 times, after drawing them in the FA Cup qualifying round. Our last game against them ended in defeat thanks to a late Matt Tubbs strike at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. At Broadhall Way, Salisbury lost 3-1 in what was a confortable afternoon for Boro. The two FA Cup games were quite dull affairs and around the time when Mark Stimson left the club. A Mark Molesley goal was enough to send Boro through to the next round. City also lost in the FA Trophy quarter final at BHW 3-0. Earlier this season, Boro won again at Broadhall Way with a 2-0 victory. Goals from Mark Albrighton and Steve Morison secured a comfortable victory for Graham Westley’s side.

With Boro currently in the form that they are in then winning at Salisbury is very possible. Salisbury are struggling to score goals and with Steve Morison in the form of his life, I’m confident we can score at least 1 on Saturday afternoon. During this run, our defence has also began to steady itself after a patchy first half of the season. Albrighton and Roberts are looking very solid and should continue at the back. Ronnie Henry will keep his place at right back, while Scott Laird will again play at left back. With Lee Boylan possibly out until March, then either Callum Willock or Peter Vincenti will partner Steve Morison up front. Vincenti fired in 4 goals in yesterday’s 5-1 reserve victory over Southend United and is pushing GW for a start.

Prediction: Salisbury 0-2 Boro

Stevenage also progressed into the semi-final of the Herts Senior Cup after a 4-2 victory at home to Hertford Town. Dave Hunt gave the visitors the lead after half hour with a close range effort. Jerome Anderson equalised within 10 minutes from the penalty spot. That’s how it stayed for the rest of the game. Extra time was played and Boro went in front thanks to a Luke Oliver strike. Anderson extended the lead before Owen Beale pulled one back for the visitors. Vincenti added a fourth for Boro to seal the victory and put Boro into the semi-final.