It took a second half penalty to settle the top of the table clash in Salford’s favour, in front of the BT cameras at a packed CNG Stadium.
Town made one change in their starting line up with
George Thomson having to make way for Joe Leesley in the Town attack.
Salford posed the first threat when Devonte Redmond’s free kick was headed tamely at James Belshaw by Nathan Pond.
Two Town corners in quick succession caused problems for the visiting defence,before Lloyd Kerry found Leesley on the left,but his cross sailed wide of the far post.
On the quarter hour, the Ammies should have taken the lead when Ibou Touray’s free kick found Pond in front of goal but Belshaw made an acrobatic save to deflect the ball over the bar.
Town began to grow into the game and an excellent move ended with Lesley cutting in from the left and shooting narrowly over the bar.
Next, Warren Burrell headed a Leesley centre at Chris Neal,before,shortly afterwards, a Ryan Fallowfield cross found the head of the unmarked Mark Beck in front of goal, but his glancing header was way off target.
So a tight,cagey first period, ended with honours even.
Salford came out after the interval, with all guns blazing!
A tremendous goalmouth scramble saw Belshaw make two point black saves from Carl Piergianni and Kelvin Langmead deflect a Rory Gaffney drive for a corner.
Unfortunately for Town, on fiftyone minutes Fallowfield conceded a penalty for the second match running,when he brought down Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in front of goal and Redmond lashed the spot kick past the diving Belshaw.
The Ammies kept up the pressure and Belshaw had to save a Piergianni header from Redmond’s free kick.
However, Town’s resilience and fighting spirit came to the fore as they battled for an equaliser.
But such was the strength of the Salford central defence, Town were unable to create a decent shooting chance and had to go down the aerial route.
A series of Town free kicks and crosses stretched the Ammies defence and Jack Muldoon and Callum Howe went close with headers.
Although Jack Emmett had had a fine game, with his speedy runs proving a handful for the visiting defence,he was replaced on the hour by George Thomson.
The move almost paid immediate dividends when Pond was penalised for a foul on Muldoon.
Leesley’s free kick eventually found Langmead in the box and his header across goal fell to Thomson but his effort was a couple of inches over the top.
It was a disappointing result for Town, keeping them in sixth place,but they have a good chance of returning to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain lowly Maidstone United
Town, Belshaw,Fallowfield,Falkingham(Williams 90),Howe,Burrell,Emmett(Thomson 74),Beck,Leesley,Langmead,Kerry,Muldoon. Man of the Match Belshaw
Unused subs,Cracknell,Kitching ,Woods Booked Fallowfield
Salford City, Neal,Wiseman,Touray,Mafuta,Hogan,Piergianni,Maynard,Redmond,Pond,Gaffney(Green 64),Dieseruvwe.
Unused subs,Crocombe,Walker,Whitehead,Rooney. Booked Mafuta,Piergianni Att 1700
Referee,M Woods
By John Harrison
