Star date: 10th September 2011

Curzon Ashton 1 Salford City 1

SALFORD GET MOJO BACK

Salford City came back from the FA Cup disappointment by storming into top of the Evo-Stik League Curzon Ashton – and were unlucky to come away with only a draw.

That makes it five unbeaten league games in a row for the Ammies, now concentrating on securing a play-off place.

Match report and photos here…

For the first time in living memory the frozen wastelands of Curzon Ashton's stadium thawed as temperatures hit, oh at least four degrees. But the cursed Curzon hurricane never ceases, and today was no exception as the winds whistled through this bus shelter of a concrete built-the-wrong-way-around stadium, putting paid to any attempts by Salford fans to unfurl the biggest tangerine and black flag in football…

…Well, anything to create a bit of atmosphere in the stalag where Salford never win. Today, the team came the closest ever to victory, playing Curzon Ashton – top of the league and yet to drop a point - off the park in the first half.

After the humiliation of getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Ramsbottom United last week, Salford came out determined to put on a show and were soon attacking with new signing, Scott Metcalfe, seeing plenty of the ball on one wing, while Rhodri Giggs orchestrated sweet moves down the other.

A series of dangerous crosses caused panic in the Ashton defence, and, after 14 minutes, the quaking defence was so panicked two of them got into a total mix up and the ball bounced off one of them into their own net to give Salford the lead.

While the goal was fortunate it was well deserved as Salford mounted waves of attacks, the most promising of which saw Jack Redshaw just fail to lob the Ashton keeper when one on one. With Salford having more possession, passion and panache the `mighty' Curzon were nowhere to be seen. But at half time the score was still only 1-0.

After the obvious dressing room hairdryer treatment (not that you need one in the wind begotten place) Ashton came out for the second half in more determined mood stringing together a few half decent attacks. But Salford continued to have chances. Jack Redshaw just failed to connect with a cross, Adam Morning (on for Rhodri Giggs) went close, while Glyn Barker and Scott Metcalfe shot inches over the bar…

…And then, the inevitable happened, as always happens in football if you don't bury teams while you're on top. Curzon got the equaliser from an unchallenged header at the far post. Both teams then went looking for a winner but had to be content with a draw.

For Salford City this means the unbeaten run in the league now extends to five games. And with the new impressive defensive partnership of Craig Flowers and Martin Parker commanding at the back, optimism is back on the agenda.

Yep, after the Ramsbottom debacle, Salford have got their mojo back!

Next up: Cammel Laird on Tuesday night Moor Lane kick off 7:45pm

Photos by Andrew Goudie