“I was gutted, absolutely gutted,” admits the Whites boss. “I’d never rule our boys out, but it gives you very little time to react.
“When teams score that late, you know you’ll probably only get one more opportunity to make something happen, two at best. There’s a little bit of shellshock, and you wonder if they can shake that off.”
Shake it off they certainly did. Five minutes later, a handball in the box allowed Salisbury’s top scorer Noah Coppin to equalise from the spot and after the pair had traded goals in extra-time it was Salisbury who triumphed 4-3 on penalties.
Promotion to National League South caps an unexpected resurgence for the fallen Wiltshire giants, who reformed in the Wessex League nine years ago following the collapse of Salisbury City.
Though well supported, a modest budget saw Salisbury finish 15th in each of the previous two campaigns, with former manager Steve Claridge saying they had “no chance” of competing with the likes of big-spending Totton.
Yet the arrival of club legend Dutton in 2022 and a youthful overhaul of the playing squad last summer has wrought a dramatic transformation, culminating in a long-awaited return to Step 2.
“At the start of the season we were closer to the relegation odds than the promotion odds,” says Dutton, who made almost 200 appearances across two spells as a player at the Ray Mac.
Denne historien er fra May 12, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 12, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.