Depleted City miss out again (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Depleted City miss out again

SALISBURY City's disappointing run continued as they made it four games without a win, away to fellow-promotion chasers Stamford, writes Ryan Lovejoy.

Steve Strong was sidelined again with a neck injury, while suspended trio Wayne Turk, Glenn Howes and Leigh Phillips were undoubtedly missed.

Whites fell behind on 13 minutes when Gareth Pritchard finished off Kevin Byrne's cross-shot.

Craig Davis tested Stamford goalkeeper Ludek Michalik either side of the opener but City could not find a way through.

Pritchard lobbed wide shortly before Byrne made it 2-0 in the 38th minute, converting from close range following Warren Donald's corner.

After the break Adam Wallace spurned an opportunity and Stamford could have seen red on two occasions for bad fouls by Donald and Byrne.

Kevin Sawyer pulled off a brilliant stop from Danny Steadman on 64 minutes and in the closing stages Malcolm Endekwe's effort struck the woodwork, preventing a more demoralising scoreline for Nick Holmes' men.

But the City boss refused to blame the absence of key players. He said: "We can always make excuses, but we didn't play to the standards we have set.

"At 1-0 down, I sensed we had a lack of belief, although the effort was there. We miss the experienced campaigners and it's been in the back of my mind that this could happen.

"I felt there were tackles on Mat Davies and Andy Cook that were far worse than the legitimate tackle that got Wayne Turk a red card against Fisher. I have seen the scars to prove it, above shin level. Their player was yellow carded for the foul on Andy but the one on Mat was missed altogether.

"The trouble with me mouthing off about referees is that it looks like sour grapes. But I said after the Corby game that the referee was excellent. He handled it superbly, and there were some tough tackles going in."

Strong is again doubtful for Saturday's game with Histon. Turk and Howes will still be suspended, but Phillips makes a welcome return. Josh Thomas will serve a one-match suspension the following week, but Holmes is refusing to panic buy.

"We are no further ahead on any new players. We have enquired about a few but keep hitting a brick wall.

"It would have been nice to have Darren Crook on the bench on Saturday, to throw on with 20 minutes to go, but the important thing is that he is getting games at Bemerton and building up match fitness."