Windsor brace sends City into festive period on winning note

An Owen Windsor double returned City to winning ways at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park. He struck twice in a first half that City dominated and this turned out to be enough to send Salisbury back to Wiltshire empty-handed.

New signing Harry Pell’s first action in a City shirt saw him head a 3rd minute Danny Greenslade cross too near ex-Roman keeper Will Buse. This set the tone for the opening period and on 14 minutes City took the lead. Brad Ash did brilliantly to keep Jordan Tillson’s pass in play and his pull-back was steered home by Windsor from close range. In the face of City’s high-press the visitors were struggling to get out of their own half. Luke Russe’s deflected 19th minute effort gave Buse a brief scare and the same player then went even closer six minutes later. He won the ball 25 yards out but saw his shot hit the top of the bar. City continued to control the game but the Whites began to look slightly more assured at the game approached half-time. However, in stoppage time City deservedly doubled their lead as Matt Bowman sent Windsor clear to slot the ball under Buse.

A Jack Batten header was turned over his bar by Buse on 56 minutes then a minute later he comfortably collected Russe’s low shot. Salisbury were seeing more of the ball now but posing little attacking threat. Just past the hour mark it took a great intervention by Revan to deny Kieran Parselle from a Greenslade corner, then Ash’s volley clipped the top of the bar, although he was in an offside position. A rare Salisbury effort on goal saw Harvey Wiles-Richards easily gather Grubb’s 81st minute shot. They did nearly pull a goal back with three minutes left when Hedges slipped a shot past Wiles-Richards but Parselle got back to clear the ball off the line. Had this gone in it would have made for a nervous finale to the game but instead City saw out the remaining time comfortably to secure a deserved double over the visitors.