AWESOME CAYNE
Wakefield, a team packed with 9ft giants looking like blue rejects from the Avatar movie, tried to play it like Stoke City – long throw-ins, air borne free kicks and high corners that literally tested every inch of Salford's defence.
It rarely worked. Because they're not Stoke City. They're Wakefield. They play in the Evo-Stik League 1. And they're not very good.
Instead it was Salford City's new ball player, Cayne Hanley, who took this game by the scruff of the neck – chasing, going past players, laying on the two goals and almost adding another that his play richly deserved.
Cayne's first telling contribution came after 14 minutes, laying the ball back for Jordan Goodeve to drive a shot past the despairing dive of Wakefield 'keeper Ashley Timms. 1-0 to Salford City.
Rhodri Giggs almost doubled the score himself shortly after, twisting and turning just inside the area before unleashing a shot heading for the top corner of the net that Timms did well to push out.
For the rest of the half, Salford City's fans amused themselves with screaming abuse at the linesman who stuck his flag up for offside every time a tangerine clad player ventured into the opposing half. Well, it wasn't proper abuse. This is non-league after all. Shouts like `Have you come dressed as a linesman from a fancy dress party?' And stuff like that.
The first half finished with Salford City 1-0 up, and well deserved. But the second half exploded into proper excitement that didn't involve telling the linesman where to shove his flag.
First, Cayne Hanley got in a flying header from Steve Foster's cross that Timms somehow managed to keep out. And then a few minutes later the new Salford number 7 mesmerised the Wakefield defence, juggling with the ball on the byline before sending over an inch perfect cross for the unmarked Steve Foster to volley in. 2-0 Salford City.
The team was almost still celebrating when, two minutes later, in the 60th minute, the Avatars struck back, some big blue thing getting in a header from a cross. 2-1.
Shortly after that, however, it should have gone to 3-1 when Steve Foster, totally alone in the six yard box, managed to screw his header wide of a post.
The war between the Avatars and the Humans never seemed to end as the referee added a millennium on to the clock, and the Avatars seemed to grow in confidence. But when the end did finally come it was Salford City who triumphed.
The Ammies now move into 9th place in the League… and dreams of a play-off place are starting to be had. But don't dream of the Wakefield Avatars...only nightmares will ensue.
Photos by Andrew Goudie
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