Salisbury City

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Roy McFarland

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Burton 1-2 Salisbury

Burton Albion's lead at the top of the Blue Square Premier was slashed to five points after they fell to their third successive defeat with a 2-1 loss to Salisbury.

The Brewers looked a shadow of the side they have been all season as they suffered their first home defeat for 10 months.

The Pirelli Stadium club have watched a 19-point lead at the top of the table cut to just five over the past few weeks, giving caretaker boss Roy McFarland serious cause for concern.

McFarland's side started the game strongly and they had their first chance as early as the first minute when Greg Pearson's close-range shot deflected wide.

But it was Salisbury who grew stronger as the game progressed and they were rewarded for their efforts when defender Tony James latched on to a Sean Clohessy cross to head the ball home after 34 minutes.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side just before the break when Salisbury doubled their lead with a freak goal on the stroke of half-time.

Whites goalkeeper James Bittner launched the ball forward but it glanced off the head of Charles Ademeno on the edge of the area and sailed over the head of Kevin Poole.

MacFarland's troops looked a far improved side in the second half as they went about trying to salvage something from the game and they were rewarded in the 82nd minute when Lee Morris blasted the ball home after he received a neat back-heel from Shaun Harrad.

Burton Albion bookings: Webster, Harrad.

Salisbury bookings: none

Att: 2,274

Ref: R L Lewis (FA).