United once again lock horns with Salisbury tonight in an FA Trophy third round replay.
Whites manager Tommy Widdrington will be looking for his side to bounce back after a disastrous 5-0 defeat at Altrincham on Saturday. Two late goals put extra gloss on the scoreline, but it was still a comprehensive win for Alty, and means Salisbury remain 17th in the Blue Square Premier table.
Widdrington (pictured above) took over in the summer from long-serving boss Nick Holmes, who moved upstairs to a general manager position. But the pair still work closely together, and after a transfer embargo was lifted last month, they wasted no time in bringing in five new additions to the squad prior the closure of the transfer window.
The club was founded as Salisbury FC in 1947, adding the "City" to their name in 1992. It is somewhat ironic, then, that they don't actually play their home games in the City of Salisbury itself, having moved to the purpose built Raymond McEnhill ground (below), in nearby Sarum, in 1997.
Having spent most of its life in the lower reaches of the Southern League, the club almost went out of business in 2002. They were saved by a local consortium, who disposed of long-serving manager Geoff Butler and put current boss and former Southampton midfielder Holmes in charge.
In the 2003/2004 season City gained promotion, via the play-offs, from the Dr Martens Eastern Division, and were elevated into the Isthmian Premier League which ended their 36-year association with the Southern League. 2004/05 produced mixed fortunes and, despite the arrival of former Southampton defender Tommy Widdrington, who joined from Port Vale as Holmes' coach.
The 2005/06 campaign proved wholly successful as the Whites romping to the Championship by a clear twelve points, meaning a first ever tilt at Conference South life. The season was also noteworthy for a fine FA Trophy run to the quarter-finals before finally being defeated by Exeter City. Much like our near-neighbours Histon, they took the Conference South by storm in 06/07, and although the Stutes pipped them to the title, there was to be joy in the play-offs when a Matt Tubbs goal saw them see off Braintree and take their place in the Conference National. They also enjoyed a good run in the FA Cup, with a 3-0 win at Fleetwood Town setting up a televised Second Round tie with Nottingham Forest. City did not disappoint the BBC as they held the League One side to a 1-1 draw, although they lost the replay 2-0.
Upon promotion the Club decided to go professional, with Tubbs being the first to sign a full-time deal. In hindsight it appears that this was a little hasty, but the move allowed Holmes to lure higher quality reinforcements in preparation for their debut at the top of the Non-League pyramid, such as former Mansfield and Hartlepool midfielder Darrell Clarke and winger Liam Feeney.
Salisbury started the season in fine fashion, and shot up to sixth in the table. However, they were unable to maintain this form, and seven pre-Christmas losses put pay to any hopes of a sustained promotion challenge. Despite beginning the second half of the season with a 17-game unbeaten run, they fell away again towards the end, and a series of losses, including a 2-0 defeat to United, saw them end up in 12th.
However, last year was a very story, and Holmes' side were one of a number of clubs at Blue Square Premier level to make severe cut backs, citing the global credit crunch as the reason. .
Players were sold and the future looked grim, but just as the spectre of relegation was beginning to loom large, majority shareholder Peter Yeldon returned to the club, bringing with him increased financial stability and allowing Holmes to make a handful of quality loan additions, including Torquay pair Chris Todd and Michael Brough. This has led to an up turn in form, and Salisbury finished comfortably clear of the bottom four. Mid-table obscurity will surely be the aim again this year.
The Squad
Between the sticks could be former Weymouth man James Bittner, who replaced Ryan Clarke after his departure to Northwich last year. But Ryan Price, signed on deadline day, could come into the reckoning.
Former Gillingham man Sean Clohessy will be at right back, and new signing Ronnie Bull, a Conference veteran with the likes of Ebbsfleet, Crawley, and latterly Grays, could be at left back.
Bizarrely, Salisbury seem to have converted ex-United striker Danny Webb to a central defender, and he could line up alongside James Turley, although another new addition, Chris Giles, has arrived from Crawley and will be in the squad. Brentford defender Chris Bush is yet another new recruit.
Widdrington favours a 4-3-3 formation, with the tousle-haired Rob Sinclair, veteran Daryl Clarke, and youngster Stuart Anderson filling the three central midfield berths in recent matches.
And up front the goalscoring burden rests mainly on the capable shoulders of Matt Tubbs, a prolific figure during Salisbury's rise up the pyramid who is back in the Whites squad this year after a spell at Bournemouth last season. But there is precious little other experience in the forward department, with youthful trio Bradley Gray, Toby Osman and Aldershot loanee Reece Connolly vying to fill the other slots.
This Season
Without their ten point penalty, Salisbury would be tenth in the table, which speaks volumes for their form in recent months. Indeed they have only suffered one league defeat since the beginning of December, a surprise reverse at the hands of Forest Green. This good spell of form, which included nicking a point from then league leaders Oxford in a 1-1 stalemate, came after a run of four defeats in five which had threatened to leave them in the midst of a relegation battle.
To progress to this stage of the Trophy the Whites have twice seen off lower league opposition in the form of Weymouth, who they beat 1-0 in the first round, and Ryman League outfit Maidstone United, who were brushed aside 2-0 at the Ray Mac last Saturday. Goals from Gray and Tubbs were enough to see off the challenge of Maidstone and set up the tie with the U's.
Last time
United have won both their previous visits to Salisbury, picking up a 2-0 win in 2007/08 and a 2-1 triumph in the penultimate game of last season. United went into that match knowing a win would set up a final-day showdown for the Blue Square Premier title after Burton slipped up in their Friday night match with Oxford.
Scott Rendell missed a sitter before tapping in a Chris Holroyd cross to give Gary Brabin's side the lead. But the prolific Charlie Griffin levelled, heading home a corner. However, United went back in front just before half time when Andy Parkinson's shot deflected past James Bittner and into the net. United hung on in a tense second half to send their travelling fans (pictured) home happy.
Matthew Gooding
Cambridge United: YOUR CITY - YOUR CLUB
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