After Saturday's last gasp 2-2 draw with Trafford an independent non-league ground hopper called Salford City `the Arsenal of the Evo-Stik League' for the way the team plays pretty flowing football. We like that tag.
Even on Prescot Cables' turf that was more suited to horse racing than the beautiful game, Salford bravely attempted to play flair footy and should have romped home.
Rhodri Giggs opened the scoring after a few minutes, a superb curled free kick from the edge of the area that looped over the Cables' keeper Farah Jackson. Salford were comfortable in possession and could have trebled the score before half time but for some stunning saves by Jackson, first from Dean Cooper and then from Steve Foster.
During this period the pitch was Cables' best player, the soggy overlong grass causing players to slip in the bog. No-one stayed down too long in case they sank, never to be seen again. Think Derby County's Baseball Ground, circa 1970s, crossed with your old school footy pitch and you'd be halfway there.
But still Salford dominated and in the second half got their reward when Dean Cooper, finding himself free in the area, stroked in the second. Salford went hunting for more goals but Jackson again rescued Cables with a dramatic double save from sub Ben Beresford and Steve Foster.
Salford, in the new green away kit, were cantering home. And then, with about ten minutes to go, a back pass to keeper Andy Robertson got stuck in the bog and Lee Cooper had to bring down the Prescot attacker who was clean through. Lee got sent off for his troubles and the Cables pulled one back from the penalty.
The player numbers were equalised at least when a nasty challenge on Jamie Tandy led to another sending off. With 10 players each, five minutes to play on our watch and three hundred minutes on the ref's special Fergie time watch, the game seemed to go on forever. But Salford hung on for a well deserved win.
Next up Chorley in the FA Cup at Moor Lane on Saturday. Chorley, the Chelsea-a-like big spenders of the Evo-Stik versus Salford City, the Arsenal of the Evo-Stik. We urge everyone in Salford to get down to Moor Lane and make it a huge FA Cup atmosphere.
Salford City v Chorley
Moor Lane, Kersal
Saturday 28th August 3pm kick off
£7/£3
kids get in free
Photos by Mikey K
See season preview here
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