The last unbeaten home record in the top five divisions of English football was ended on Saturday when Salisbury City won 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium. It completed a miserable eight days for Burton Albion as they slumped to their third consecutive defeat to see their lead of the Blue Square Premier Division reduced to just five points prior to last night's (Tuesday) games. Albion went into their first home game in almost four weeks looking to repeat their previous home game performance, where they turned in their best 90 minutes of the season to defeat Wrexham. The result could have been so different had they managed to take the lead inside the first two minutes. Back on the opening day of the season leading scorer Greg Pearson opened his account against Salisbury with a goal in just 88 seconds. On Saturday the watch had just moved past the minute mark when John McGrath played in Shaun Harrad who saw his shot well parried by goalkeeper James Bittner. The ball ran free to Pearson who looked to slot the ball home only to see his shot deflected just wide of the post by a brilliant last gasp block by defender Luke Ruddick. Burton 'keeper Kevin Poole had to be at his best to keep out the visitors, who made good use of a strong wind behind them, saving well three times to deny striker Charlie Griffin. Salisbury did take the lead after 34 minutes when Sean Clohessy's right wing cross was headed into his own net by Tony James under pressure from Griffin. The visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half time with a bizarre effort that ultimately won City the game. Along clearance from Bittner was met by Jake Buxton's head 25 yards from his own goal. His powerful clearance struck the back of the head of Charles Ademeno and flew over the despairing reach of Poole and into the top corner of the net. The Brewers needed an early goal to put some pressure on Salisbury, but the nearest they came to getting a goal back came when Griffin headed a cross against his own crossbar. Burton had a penalty appeal waved away when Harrad appeared to be bundled over, before the same player created his side's goal in the 82nd minute. His neat back heel wrong-footed the City defence allowing substitute Lee Morris to celebrate his return from suspension with a neat effort from 12 yards which he curled past Bittner. Morris then saw an effort cleared off the line by Michael Brough before the final whistle which saw Salisbury become the first side to win at Burton since Grays Athletic won 2-3 on April 5 last year. Manager Roy McFarland admitted afterwards: "It was bitterly disappointing today. It is not a lack of effort, it is what we are doing at certain times that is poor." He went on to add: "We are better when we play at full pelt and dictating the tempo and we didn't do that today, particularly in the first half. I know the wind made it difficult and hard to play first half and to lose the second goal in such bizarre circumstances at the end of the half was hard to take." McFarland now has to try and quickly lift his players' spirits starting last night (Tuesday) with the trip to financially stricken Weymouth. They then have another long trip next Saturday when they make their first ever visit to East-bourne Borough. | 
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