United are back on the road again tonight, as they head to Wiltshire to take on Salisbury FC.
Having played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Chelmsford City at Plainmoor on Saturday, Paul Wotton’s side will be hoping to follow that up with another positive result at the Ray McEnhill Stadium, as The Gulls look to apply further pressure on the leading sides at the top of the National League South table.
Who’s the Boss?
Brian Dutton was appointed manager at the Ray Mac juts over two years ago, following the departure of long-serving previous boss, Steve Claridge.
Having proven to be a genuine utility player during his time of the pitch with various clubs including Pickering Town, Cambridge United, Weymouth Eastleigh and both Salisbury City and Salisbury FC, it was with Bristol Rovers that Dutton began taking his first steps into coaching with the Pirates’ Under-23 side, before going on to take up his first managerial role with Walsall.
That stint may have only have lasted 20 games, however he clearly gained a taste for the managerial hotseat, and after a brief return to Bristol, Brian made the move to Wiltshire to take charge of The Whites.
After following up a 15th-placed finish in 2022/23 with third position in his first full season in charge, victory over AFC Totton on penalties in the play-off final saw Salisbury earn promotion to the National League South, the highest level the club has competed at since their reformation in 2015.
How have they been doing?
Four wins, four draws and six defeats suggests there is more to come from Salisbury, who currently reside in 18th place with 16 points from 14 games.
There’s been plenty of cause for optimism though, with a 2-1 win over Boreham Wood and a 3-3 against Dorking Wanderers serving as a notable markers of their potential against teams who were plying their trade in the division above last season.
Without a game last weekend, their most recent outing was a 2-1 away defeat at a Chelmsford side who held United on Saturday.
Player to Watch
Experienced central defender Luke Wilkinson made the switch to Salisbury, after turning out 29 times for Woking in the division above last season.
After beginning his youth career with Bristol City, a move to then Premier League Portsmouth followed, however it was during loan spells at Northampton Town and Eastleigh that saw Luke gain his first senior experience.
Over two centuries of appearances in the EFL for Dagenham and Redbridge, Luton Town and Stevenage followed, in addition to further loan stints at Boreham Wood and Dartord.
After leaving Stevenage, he moved to Yeovil Town before spending the past two seasons at Woking.
Played For Both
With Salisbury FC filling the void left by Salisbury City’s expulsion from the Conference in 2014, there haven’t been too many players to have represented both The Gulls and Salisbury’s present club.
Josh Wakefield is one of a select few players to have done so, having joined Chris Hargreaves’ Torquay side on loan from AFC Bournemouth in 2014/15.
That ten-game spell at Plainmoor – which included a solitary goal in United’s 4-3 defeat at Telford – was just one of nine temporary stays Josh would partake in during his five years at The Cherries, before the midfielder made the permanent switch to Aldershot Town in 2016.
Subsequent moves to Poole and Weymouth followed, before Wakefield moved on to The Whites in 2021, where he made 47 appearances, scoring 4 goals over the next two seasons.
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