Fisher keeps City’s name on the cup

A stoppage-time header from Alex Fisher completed a great turnaround for City this afternoon, coming from behind to beat Salisbury and secure a place in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round draw. Trailing to a Hedges goal at the break, Jordan Tillson levelled midway through the second half before Fisher’s late late heroics.

Sporting names on the back of their shirts for the first since the 2011/12 season City enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, Luke Russe shooting straight at Aziaya on five minutes before Scott Wilson flashed a shot across goal six minutes later. However, it was the home side who went ahead on 18 minutes when Harvey Wiles-Richards failed to hold Coppin’s swerving shot giving Hedges a simple tap-in. City continued to enjoy the better of the game despite this set-back, Ewan Clark heading narrowly over then Kieran Parselle seeing his shot strike the top of the bar after Aziaya spilled a cross. Just before the break Fisher gave the Whites a taste of what was to come, heading home Clark’s cross, but an offside flag saved them on this occasion.

Salisbury started the second half on the front foot, Hedges and Thomas forcing smart blocks from Wiles-Richards. In-between these chances City again had the ball in the net, Luke Russe this time the player denied by an offside flag. On 63 minutes City levelled as Salisbury failed to clear a Frear free-kick and Tillson steered the ball home for his first Romans’ goal. Five minutes later Elliot-Wheeler raced clear but Wiles-Richards produced a great save. Chances were coming regularly at both ends, Fisher heading narrowly over then Tillson seeing his shot fly just wide. Elliot-Wheeler and Leggett both failed to hit the target when well-placed for the Whites. Both goalkeepers then had to be at their best, Aziaya keeping out Jack Batten’s shot and Wiles-Richards producing a stunning one-handed save to block Hedges’ close-range effort. Just when it looked like the sides would be heading back to Twerton Park for a replay substitute Sol Wanjau-Smith made ground down the left flank and crossed the ball for Fisher to head home and send the sizable City travelling fans into rapture.