If the season started in spring Salford City would be heading for the Football League by now, after the stunning end to last season and their current form as this season draws to a close.
Two absolutely fantastic goals were enough to see off a lethargic Trafford side who also seemed to have lost 90% of their away support since they last played at Moor Lane. Today it was left to around half a dozen fans to sing 70s songs about their non performing, non entity wingers…
In a first half almost totally dominated by Salford, Trafford didn't have one shot on goal that mattered. For Salford, Steve Foster brought a great save from the keeper with a dainty lob after half an hour, and five minutes later Lee Neville, cutting in from the right unleashed a wicked shot that just flew over the bar.
On forty minutes, Stuart Tulloch opened the scoring, beating a few Trafford defenders and unleashing a screamer from 30 yards that flew into the back of the net. Top goal. 1-0 Salford City.
It could have been two before the break as Rhodri Giggs, juggling the ball on the byline, cut back a cross that Steve Foster got his head to but couldn't quite direct on goal.
The second half began in the same fashion, Foster, free on his own, taking a little too long to get his shot in as defenders scampered back to clear, and Giggs getting in a great shot that the Trafford keeper did well to save.
A second goal was coming, and half way through the half Steve Foster lobbed the keeper who could only watch the ball sail over his head and nestle in the corner of his net. 2-0 Salford.
Five minutes later it could have been three but the keeper this time got his legs to a close range Martyn Andrews shot to deflect it for a corner. As the game approached its conclusion Trafford managed to score with their first serious shot on target to make it 2-1, and while they tried to pressurise Salford for an equaliser it was never on the cards as the Ammies controlled the final stages into stoppage time.
"For the first time in this season's flight through the Unibond First Division North I think I can recommend, with a degree of confidence, the loosening of those seatbelts" wrote chairman and co-caretaker manager Darren Quick in his programme notes "I feel the chances of further turbulence are almost gone and the remainder of our journey should bring us to our favoured destination which is Unibond football for 2010-11."
Salford City aren't just safe from the drop now, we're flying up the league with games in hand.
Remaining games:
Tuesday 13th April: Radcliffe Borough (away)
Thursday 15th April: Chorley (home) 7:45pm
Saturday 17th April: AFC Fylde (away)
Wednesday 21st April: Leigh Genesis (away)
Saturday 24th April: Woodley Sports (home) 3:00pm
Further details www.salfordcityfc.co.uk
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