Star date: 16th March 2013

AMMIES NEARLY STUN WIRES

Warrington Town 2 Salford City 1

Yet again Salford City almost staged a grandstand finish after gifting their opponents a two-goal lead, but once more they couldn't quite find the finishing touch to complete a memorable comeback.

Special match report by guest summariser and 1980s stanchion expert Andrew Goudie.

Photos and report here…

Just like Ramsbottom, FC United and so many other opponents this season, this time it was the turn of Warrington's players and supporters to beg the ref to blow the full-time whistle as Salford City finished the game piling forwards in search of an equaliser. But the vital goal wouldn't come as Warrington clung on to their precarious 2-1 lead to take all three points.

Salford started slowly again, but they were just getting into their stride and beginning to look threatening when Warrington suddenly broke away down the left to take the lead after 25 minutes. 1-0 to Warrington at half-time, but with Jamie Rother pulling the strings in midfield, and Rob Kinsella terrorising the defence, it seemed only a matter of time before the Ammies got back on terms.

Off the pitch, entertainment was provided by the bizarre sight of Warrington's ball-boys/mascots cheering on Salford. Perhaps they didn't like the look of the home team's mascot (who was greeted with a friendly `Who are you, the ref?' by the away fans).

And in a flash-back to Trevor Brooking's classic goal for England v Hungary in 1981, we even had a ball stuck in the stanchion. Only this time stuck in the stand after a wayward shot. And well and truly stuck it was - even the groundsman's valiant efforts with a corner flag couldn't dislodge it.

It made you wonder ... whatever happened to stanchions in goalposts? Hitting the stanchion used to be the sign of a top-quality goal, and among all the changes in football over the years, the demise of the goalpost stanchion has been criminally ignored.

The second half started badly for the Ammies, as Warrington doubled their lead after a bit of a mix-up. But when Adrian Bellamy powered a header into the net after good build-up work down the left, the fight-back was on. Chris Monaghan had a close-range effort blocked, shots whizzed inches past the post, and Warrington's Prince Harry look-a-like goalie flapped hopefully to deny Nathan McDonald when he was ready to pounce.

The equaliser just wouldn't come, and Salford were left wondering where their next win would come from. League games away at Curzon Ashton on Monday and at home to Lancaster are next up…

…And then it's the Big One - the Manchester Premier Cup Final at Edgeley Park on 27th March. Tickets available from Salford City FC.

Photos and words by Andrew Goudie