What a wonderful footballing weekend we've just had. Burton lost, United won, and Rio Ferdinand was solely responsible for Man Utd exiting the FA Cup and therefore not winning the quadruple. No fist pumping celebrations or retarded whooping in the Ferdinand household this weekend, what a pity.
And back in January, who would have thought that we'd be going into the final day of the season a potential 90 minutes away from the Blue Square Premier title? Not me that's for sure, and in fact, I think I even doubted that we had the quality to get into the play-offs.
But in the play-offs we will most certainly be, regardless of what happens next Sunday, and that is of great credit to the Brabinator, Cards, and Bimmo, who have done a very decent job in their first season in charge. It's a shame that we don't have a few more goals (or indeed points) on the board to really put some pressure on Burton, because as it stands the Brewers still look odds-on favourites for the title, but it's by no means impossible that we could all be very very happy by this time next week.
Salisbury is a very pleasant little town, although if you went directly to the stadium you would not know this, as the Raymond McEnhill (a former chairman, if you were wondering) ground is located way out of town, amongst the council houses and industrial units of Old Sarum.
Perhaps the stadium has been plonked in the middle of nowhere because the Salisbury-ites are a bit embarrassed by their side, who have recovered from their mid-season financial problems to regain their previous guise as a niggly bunch of divers. I've never seen 11 players sustain so many facial injuries in such a short period of time yet never require sustained treatment. Very strange.
The first half was fairly even, with United's extra bit of class in front of goal ensuring that we went into the break a goal to the good. Scott Rendell should've given us the lead when he met a cross from Holroyd but was denied by stretching Whites keeper James Bittner. The rebound came back to Scotty, who could only head it onto the top of the bar with the goal gaping. Our top scorer has been a bit below par in recent weeks, and had he been in top form I'm sure he would have put the initial chance away.
He made no mistake moments later though, slotting home from eight yards after Holroyd had latched on to a precise Parkinson through ball and delivered a low cross from the left. It was the culmination of a spell of pressure from the U's, which saw us win - and waste - several corners and free kicks in good positions.
Meanwhile our defence seemed to be making a conscious effort to ignore Salisbury's 20-odd goal top scorer Charlie Griffin, and the porky striker missed two great chances to equalise before he finally found the net. A theatrical fall from Tubbs on the right won a free kick, which Daryl Clarke landed perfectly on Griffins bald bonce, and his header found the far corner of Danny Potter's net. Football's a simple game innit. 1-1.
Home keeper James Bittner had been enduring the taunts of the travelling U's fans with good humour, and clearly enjoyed the goal, directing a clenched fist celebration at his tormentors. He wasn't so happy just before the break to be picking the ball out of his net again; this time Reason was the architect, surging forward and delaying his pass until the very last moment and slipping it through to Parky. The wingers angled shot may have been heading in anyway, but a deflection off Pearce took it over Bittner's diving body and high into net. 2-1.
By comparison the second half was a bit of a let down, with United looking nervous as they presumably contemplated the prospect of a final day, super Sunday shoot out. Of course winning was the most important thing, but another goal or two should've been possible had we continued in the vein of the first half.
Salisbury failed to make an impression on the United defence, despite a whole load of possession, and the closest they came to a goal was a Griffin free header over the bar. On the break United still looked the more likely scorers, mainly through Holroyd, who in my opinion is fast becoming our most important attacking player. He glanced a header into the keepers hands just after the restart, and later in the match rounded Bittner but saw his shot cleared off the line by Fowler. In between times Rendell slid a shot wide, and Hatswell was off-target with an attempted overhead kick.
But generally our final delivery was poor, and possession was surrendered far too easily on numerous occasions. By the time the final whistle came it was something of a relief, and if we are to record the required margin of victory against Altrincham cooler heads will certainly be required. Bring it on.
Man of the Match: Chris Holroyd. No one in white could get near him all afternoon.
Celebrity sighting of the Match: Russell Brand, who joined the action at half time playing under the pseudonym Rob Sinclair. No sign of Jonathan Ross though.
