The U's did all they could but it proved to be not  quite enough to recover from a nightmare start at Salisbury as Chris Wilder's first game ended in defeat. Two early goals from the home side left The U's too much to do despite a brave rally and a goal from Sam Deering. However the sight of Deering departing on a stretcher soon after his goal will perhaps be the more worrying sight for new boss Wilder.

United had an early chance as Jamie Guy flicked a Lewis Haldane cross over the bar in the first minute but then had their 'after Boxing Day dinner nap' in the penalty area rather than in front of the TV to fall behind in just the third minute. A simple left wing corner was flicked on at the near post by centre half Michael Fowler and went perfectly into the path of top scorer Charlie Griffin who buried his header past the helpless Turley from six yards. The marking was non-existent, the players static, and the magnificent away support at the opposite end of the ground were silenced for once.

Those at the back of the world's biggest burger queue still hadn't seen any of the game as Salisbury doubled their advantage on sixteen minutes. The dangerous Feeny, whose corner teed up the first, burst into the box and got to the line to pull the ball back for Charles Ademeno to apply a simple finish from six yards once again.

The watching Wilder will have been wondering what was going on because although his side were looking neat enough in possession it was the home side looking like scoring goals, especially from set-pieces, and the next  goal was already going to be all important. It almost came United's way on 27 as Luke Foster headed down a Murray free kick and saw it hacked off the line by Griffin, with loud appeals claiming that the ball had crossed the line, but that chance provoked the away fans who started to roar their team on and start to raise the temperature. Constable dragged a left footer wide, then smashed a right footer wide in the same place, and perhaps the two goal head start was retrievable?

Half time saw James Clarke  come on at right back to allow Joe Burnell to assume his more usual midfield position, with the unusually subdued Phil Trainer making way, and within thirty seconds of the restart United should have got that vital first goal back as a swirling high ball confused defender Ruddick and allowed Deering to storm into the area. Deering fired low and hard at goal but keeper Bittner was down to his right to make a vital save.

With wide men Deering and Haldane clearly having the edge against their full backs and Constable and Guy starting to link better United were pressing the home side back and on 54 minutes they got their reward as Deering made it 2-1. Haldane played an astute pass behind defender Bass who was left floudering as Constable ran at goal. Bittner saved bravely at his feet but as the ball looped up Deering was smart enough to nip in and steer the bouncing loose ball into the empty net.

The fickle nature of football was swiftly shown. No sooner had Deering celebrated his second senior goal than a high tackle ten yards inside the Salisbury half left the teenage winger in agony and leaving the pitch on a stretcher. The challenge incensed those in blue near it and angered Billy Turley so much he charged half the length of the pitch to make his feelings clear to Luke Ruddick for what he considered a poor tackle.           

As most people had felt  would happen the goal spurred United on and sent Salisbury deeper and deeper and The U's should have equalised as Haldane burst past two men but saw his cross cut out by Bittner as Guy screamed in behind him. The boys all in blue were totally committed to the cause and pouring men forward and on 76 had another glorious chance as the increasingly influential Guy freed sub Yemi Odubade on the right but his shot flashed just wide of the far post. A Haldane header from a Day long throw was then headed off the line by Bass and even with five men up front for the closing stages United just could not find a way past the stubborn Salisbury back line.

Having brought over half the crowd with them United had played their part but came up that little bit short.

Report: Chris Williams

Att: 2, 418

Away: 1,241