On the ball. City striker Adam Wallace takes on the Folkestone defence. DA6174P07A COOLLY taken 84th minute pen-alty by Adam Wallace clinched Salisbury City's first opening day victory in three years, writes Mike Turner.

The Whites striker ensured that Daniel Morrin's first duty was to pick the ball out of the net after he had been sent on to replace Folke-stone 'keeper Anthony Kessell, red-carded for flooring Matt Tubbs as he was about to break the deadlock.

Tubbs had been put clear on goal by a clever dummy from substitute Steve Strong following a quality Scott Bartlett pass.

Kessell, who had been the visitors' best player on a hot afternoon at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, was caught cold like the rest of his defence by Strong's sweet step-over and clumsily tripped the quick-footed Tubbs.

Pointing to the spot, Yeovil referee Martin Blatchford then had no option but to send off the Invicta custodian.

Despite a lengthy delay while the visitors sacrificed outfield player John Walker for their replacement goalkeeper, Wallace remained focus-ed and made no mistake with the spot kick, much to the delight of most of the opening day crowd of 530 at Old Sarum.

Caretaker boss Mark Kelly was happy to get his managerial career off to a winning start, but the pre-season call for patience from across the Atlantic from Nick Holmes had certainly rung true.

Although resilient in defence, Whites had struggled to find a way through a solid-looking Folkestone side who had twice taken a point off them last season.

It looked like being three draws on the trot until the inspired arrival of Strong on 69 minutes.

Kelly was tactically on the button, withdrawing the faultless Matt Davies to play Strong in the hole behind twin forwards Wallace and Tubbs.

However, Strong's verve effectively saw City play with three up front as for the first time all afternoon, Invicta's defence struggled to contain the hosts.

Salisbury oozed confidence after the goal and could easily have gone on to win more handsomely.

Matt Holmes was immediately thrown on to bolster the midfield and a couple of full-blooded tackles from the manager's son summed up City's resolve to hang on to all three points.

Strong then whipped in a tantalising cross which somehow eluded both Wallace and Craig Davis in the six-yard box as a swift second goal began to look on the cards.

Holmes and Tubbs linked well to provide Wallace with another chance to ice the cake.

But as he was forced to the ground under a challenge, the ball got stuck under his feet and, although he still managed to scoop the ball goalwards, stand-in 'keeper Morrin was now alert to the danger.

For all their domination in the closing 20 minutes, the afternoon had started nervously for Whites whose trademark passing game eluded them.

The ever-chasing Wallace and Tubbs were largely ineffective owing to numerous poor passes hoicked hastily in their direction.

Normally so fluid on the ball, City struggled to string three passes together and their own frustration was soon echoed from the stands.

Fortunately Kevin Sawyer, whose young sons were among three opening day mascots, was blameless throughout and on the occasions when Invicta got forward, was always his dependable self.

Folkestone looked at their most dangerous from set pieces and should have taken the lead on 15 minutes when James Dryden wasted a close range opportunity following Drew Watkins' free kick from just outside the box.

Wallace showed he had lost none of his sharpness during the summer lay off and forced the first corner of the afternoon as early as the seventh minute when he burst through the middle to receive Glenn Howes' accurate pass. However, the ball was diverted wide of the target after striking a defender.

Six minutes later the best move of the game so far resulted in Tubbs flicking the ball into the net, a la Michael Owen for England against Portugal. However, the diminutive attacker had drifted offside after a well-worked build up involving Davies, Bartlett and Howes.

Again showing a nice turn of speed, Wallace, despite having his shirt tugged, left three players in his wake on 20 minutes. But the accuracy of his powerful shot did not match the artistry of his approach.

Moments later Tubbs tried an audacious long range effort which forced Kessell to turn the ball around his posts for a corner.

Salisbury kicked off the second half in determined mood and there was certainly a more direct approach to their play.

While their passing still left much to be desired, there was no denying Sawyer's accuracy, hoofing the ball more than 70 yards towards Tubbs who continued to chase everything.

Mark Lisk let fly from just outside the box on 52 minutes, but his shot proved a comfortable height for Kessell.

Strong's arrival changed the course of a game that looked to be heading for a goalless draw.

A Tubbs shot was turned around for another corner by the ever-busy Kessell before another nifty move involving Bartlett, Wallace and Strong almost resulted in Watkins putting the ball into his own net.

City's next advance provided the pivotal moment of the afternoon.

Bartlett's pass found Tubbs in space thanks to Strong's step-over and Kessell, for once, was left exposed. His outstretched leg took Tubbs rather than the ball and his contribution to the opening contest of the campaign was over.

Whites just about deserved the spoils and the confidence gained from beating a strong and well-drilled side should stand them in good stead for future encounters.

No doubt Kelly will have passing practice high on his 'to do' list this week.