United 2
(Zanzala 13′, Jenkins Davies 73′)
Salisbury 2
(Watts 45+2′, Silva 56′)
The points were shared on Tuesday evening, as United and Salisbury played out a 2-2 draw at Plainmoor.
An opener from Offrande Zanzala put United on their way, however strikes either side of the break from Callum Watts and Ronan Silva turned the game on its head. Will Jenkins Davies restored parity though, and that was the way it stayed.
After recording back-to-back wins on the road, boss Paul Wotton named the same starting eleven for the side’s return to Plainmoor.
It was the visitors who were out of the traps the quickest, however it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on 13 minutes.
After Matt Jay had seen his opportunistic lob from the edge of the 18 yard line tipped over the crossbar, Jordan Young’s delivery caused even more panic inside the box. With the ball first striking the bar before being smuggled of the goalline, it was eventually the poacher’s instincts of Zanzala that prevailed, as he prodded into the net from close range to give The Gulls the lead.
Moments later, Salisbury thought they had levelled as Owen Dore swept home from James Hamon’s initial save – only for the referee to consult with their assistant, and duly rule the goal out.
Both teams traded proverbial punches thereafter, however, just when it looked like Wotton’s men had done enough to go into the break in front, the Whites equalised, as Callum Watts drilled a low shot into the net from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time.
If that wasn’t bad enough, ten minutes after the restart, the visitors were ahead.
Silva’s delivery from out wide on the left wing looked for all the world like it was aimed at the forwards inside the box, however, instead the ball looped up over James Hamon and into the far corner of the net.
United looked rattled for a while thereafter, but in the 73rd minutes, it was 2-2.
Young’s delivery from a free-kick on the left picked out the rising Zanzala, and although his glancing header cannoned of the woodwork, Jenkins Davies was on hand to smash home the rebound to make it all-square.
From thereon in, it was United that were pushing for a winner, with restricted to holding on for a valuable point in their battle for survival.
Although The Gulls pushed and pushed, the winner just wouldn’t come, as it ended a point apiece at Plainmoor.
Next up, Dorking away.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 7. Lirak Hasani (10. Omar Mussa, 58′), 8. Jordan Young, 14. Matt Carson (3. Jay Foulston, HT), 17. Offrande Zanzala, 20. Dan Hayfield (18. Oscar Threlkeld, 59′), 22. Will Jenkins Davies, 26. Jordan Thomas (2. Finley Craske, 68′), 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 16. Ed Palmer, .
SALISBURY: 24. Rhys Byrne, 2. Finn Tonks, 3. Jordan Ragguette, 5. Sam German, 8. Callum Watts, 9. Dan Fitchett (c) (10. Craig Fasanmade, 81′), 11. Noah Coppin (14. Josh Hedges, 74′), 15. Karlos Gregory, 16. Ronan Silva (7. Jaden Perez, 89′), 18. Lewis Brown, 23. Owen Dore.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Tom Leggett, 21. Theo Lewis.
Yellow Card: Silva 59′, Tonks 80′
Attendance: 4,025 (93 away)