Star date: 22nd December 2013

SALFORD CITY CUT CABLES TO SIZE

Salford City 2 Prescot Cables 0

Salford City took their current run to one loss in seven games with the grinding down of Prescot Cables. A penalty by Mark Battersby and a long range howitzer from Matty Purcell sealed the points.

Match report and photos here…

Salford City gave their fans a top Christmas present by beating Prescot Cables at home for the first time at this level, whilst taking the current run to one loss in seven games.

At the start the Ammies were living dangerously, Prescot going close a few times – only a mixture of Keiran O'Boyle's stops and some wayward finishing keeping the scores level.

Indeed, some of the Cables' finishing was so bad, braying noises were coming from a section of the Salford support all afternoon. There were even suggestions that the away team's strikers had escaped from the nativity play at the school next door.

Gradually, however, Salford took control and, after 25 minutes, Mark Battersby converted a penalty after he was scythed down from behind while attempting to score. 1-0.

A short while later, as Ammies' captain Lee Hodgkinson lay injured in the area play continued and it was almost 2-0 as a curled shot hit the angle of post and bar. With what looked like a bad ankle sprain, Hodgkinson limped off to be replaced by Josh Messer.

And just before half time the Prescot right back also left the pitch, this time sent off for putting his head into Mark Battersby's face. Half time 1-0.

Ten men Prescot started the second half brightly with more shots ballooned over the bar, but Salford gradually wore the woolly backs down. Rio Ahmadi was put through in the area by Matty Purcell but he couldn't quite control the pass, and Purcell himself whistled a shot just past the post after a good run on the wing by Danny Browne. 

A goal was coming and it duly arrived in the 78th minute, Matty Purcell driving home an unstoppable shot from just outside the area to double the lead and ensure Ammies' fans have a very happy Christmas. 2-0.

With Salford city now tenth in the league, the festive fixtures will decide whether the team can push on and compete for the play-offs. First up is Ramsbottom United away on Boxing Day. They sit two points above the Ammies in the league.

Next up on 28th December is Darlington away. They sit fourth in the league and it's a huge game with a Salford City coach being laid on for supporters. If anyone fancies a trip with the Tangerine Army it's £10 and you need to phone the club asap to book a place – click here for details.

Finally, on New Year's Day, Salford `entertain' Radcliffe Borough at home in the local derby.

Details on all these fixtures at the Salford City FC website – click here

Photos by Gareth Lyons