THERE were no signs at Old Sarum of the recovery Vics desperately need to end the 10-match drought which has plunged them to the bottom of the Blue Square North Premier table.
Caretaker-manager Paul Warhurst dropped himself to keep a watching brief from the touchline, but could not have been impressed with the wafer-thin talent he may be about to inherit.
Apart from a few good moments involving Barnsley loan players Simon Heslop and Mike Coulson and the spirit of Mike Byrne and Mike Carr, Vics’ larder looks as bare as their immediate prospects of winning a league match.
Premiership new boys Salisbury and their manager Nick Holmes had a better game-plan and were sharper throughout a game they deserved to win by more than two goals.
These were scored in the 12th minute through Southampton loan player Luke Oliver after Ben Connett had parried a drive from Robbie Matthews, and then in 47 minutes when Matt Tubbs was presented with a simple tap-in chance.
Northwich’s best opportunity was delayed until the 85th minute when good work by Carr and Richard Battersby laid on a cross which Coulson headed into the side-netting.
Vics get a chance to break their duck tomorrow when they host struggling North West Counties neighbours Winsford United in the first round of the Cheshire Senior Cup.
SALISBURY: R. Clarke; Bass, Robinson (D. Clarke 39), Cook; Oliver, Clay, Bartlett, Turk, Matthews; Tubbs (M. Brown 86), Sandell (Feeney 77).
NORTHWICH: Connett; Battersby, Strong, Birch, R. Brown; Wilson, Heslop, Williams (Tate 67 mins.), Byrne (Townson 49); Carr, Coulson.
