Star date: 18th November 2012

Salford City 0 Ossett Town 2

NEVER MIND THE BALOTELLIS WHERE'S THE GOALS GONE?

Salford City failed to score for the third successive game as the crossbar, some dodgy referee decisions and a huge bus parked in the Ossett area prevented Salford from registering a win - just when the world's press is looking in, tittering at Mario Balotelli's brother's new footy home…

Match report, photos and suggested Christmas presents for Mario here…

What do you buy the man who has everything for Christmas? Well how about a Salford City shirt, which comes in stunning tangerine home colours or City-style light blue for away days? A Salford City pen? A Salford City mug?

The choice is endless in Tony's ace Salford City club cabin. But hopefully it will be Mario Balotelli's younger brother, Enoch Barwuah, who gets the shirt on quick to rescue the Ammies season. This was Salford's third successive defeat and third game without a goal, as a once promising season begins to go a bit squibbed.

As in the last game against Harrogate Railway, the Ammies twice hit the crossbar and had the ball booted off the line as it was trickling in. This week add a referee who might as well have worn an Ossett Town t-shirt, such was his whistle's love for the Yorkshire whiners.

The Ammies, with three first choice players missing, started well brightly, with striker Rob Kinsella rounding the Ossett keeper and choosing to square the ball for no-one rather than blasting it into the net. Shortly after, a cross was deflected by an Ossett player and looked a certain goal until a defender scurried back to get his hoof in the way.

Against the run of play, Ossett took the lead with a header that looked a mile offside. 0-1. With the referee now giving almost every decision to Ossett, Salford were undaunted and Chris Thompson hit the bar with a looping header.

By now, Ossett were hanging on but with about half a second to go to half time they won a dodgy free kick on the edge of the area. It was whipped into the corridor of uncertainty that runs through the six yard box, and Ossett had a two goal lead as their striker was first to get his head to it. Half time 0-2.

A Sun journalist, who'd come to Moor Lane to make the obvious snide comparisons between Mario's Man City lifestyle and brother Enoch's new Ammies home, had seen enough and sneaked out. He missed Rob Kinsella being dragged down for what should have been a penalty and Jamie Rother hit the bar with a curling corner.

For the rest of the half it was a case of Ossett Town parking the bus in their penalty area and speeding down the other end when getting the chance – which they did on too many occasions, with Salford keeper, Ritchie Branagan performing miracles to keep the score respectable. For his efforts, Ritchie won Man of the Match in the club house after the game. Final score 0-2.

So Salford City have now gone three games without a win or a goal – and face super in form Skelmersdale United away on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Ammies await the Italian FA getting their fingers out to process Enoch's international clearance pronto. Salford City needs someone with a pair of shooting boots. Fast.

Photos by Gareth Lyons and Andrew Goudie