Still No Goals In The FA Cup Proper - Salisbury vs. Grimsby

The Raymond McEnhill Stadium just before kick off.

This weekend, I accompanied my Grimsby supporting friend to Salisbury for their second round tie against Grimsby Town. After beating a team from the league above in the previous round, The Mariners were hoping to avoid that scenario this time round. This was Salisbury fourth game in the FA Cup and they were yet to play a team who were from a higher league. Neither side were pulling up any trees in their respective leagues and they are both in the lower half of the table. It promised to be a decent game with a big crowd and the potential for a massive draw in the next round.

A Salisbury player takes a throw in front of some of the covered accommodation.

As expected, Salisbury start off at a frantic pace and attack Grimsby straight from kick off. They force a series of corners but Grimsby manage to keep them out. The home side then begin shooting from range but they have very little success and the keeper is untroubled. The away then have the best chance of the half. A cross from the left wing is headed against the bar from close range and the ball is then cleared to safety. This sparks the away team in to life and they finish the half on top but fail to create any further chances.

The main stand.

The game becomes very open after half time with both sides having chances to win the game. Salisbury have the first one. The winger breaks free past the defence but he puts the chance just wide. Grimsby now begin to really dominate possession. After weaving his way through the Salisbury defence the Grimsby striker gets a chance but a bobble just before he hits it means he puts the ball over the bar. They again get behind the home defence but the striker's touch lets him down. Then in the last few minutes the Salisbury player puts the ball high and wide from a close range header. The game goes to replay and I'm yet to see a goal in the FA Cup proper.

The sizeable Grimsby following.

The ground is a long way out of the town centre. The 501 goes from the market place to right outside the ground. As with Sleaford. Salisbury is defiantly worth a walk around before the game. There are lots of pubs in the town centre for a pre match pint. As we wanted to watch the early kick off, we went to The Cathedral Hotel which also does pretty good food. The clubhouse wasn't open to away fans an so we didn't get a chance to check it out. The whole ground looks pretty new and so I should imagine it's half decent. The train from Waterloo took around an hour and half and they depart every half hour.

Another shot of the main stand.