You can stuff yer Barca, yer Man U, yer Brazil… watching history being made on a cabbage patch pitch on a Tuesday night in Prescot is where the real joy lies.
Salford City, fourth in the Evo-Stik First Division North…six points off the top with two games in hand… the highest position ever in the whole history of the club. Tangerine dreams are made of such stuff… and battling performances by a team growing in confidence with every game.
Tonight was not a night for the flowing, silky football instigated by manager Darren Sheridan. Tonight the Ammies had to dig in (literally) on a pitch more suited to rugby, and conquer a Prescot team happy to hoof and moan their way through the ninety minutes.
With the first half a total scrap fizzling out into goalless obscurity, Salford took a fortunate lead when the Prescot keeper allowed the ball to squirm out of his hands on the edge of the area. Steve Yarwood collected the present and curled the ball into the empty net to make it 1-0 at the break.
If the initial 45 minutes were totally forgettable, the second half came alive as Salford City got the measure of the pitch and the better of the Prescot defence with what turned out to be the inspired introduction of sub Nathan McDonald.
McDonald it was who doubled the score, meeting Osebi Abadaki's cross to finish emphatically with a half volleyed, net bulging bullet shot. 2-0. And it could have been two for McDonald shortly after but his header from Jimmy Holden's free kick smacked against the post. The third goal duly arrived when Osebi Abadaki found himself clear on the edge of the area, thought about rounding the keeper but instead hit an unstoppable thunderbolt to wrap up the victory.
Shortly before the end Nathan McDonald was pushed over by the keeper in the area, picked himself up but whacked the ball well over the bar from the subsequent penalty. It mattered not. Another 3-0 away victory. Another clean sheet. Another move up the table for the Ammies.
`Going up…Going up…Going up' sang the Salford supporters at the final whistle. You'd better believe it. This Ammies team is going places – hopefully the Premier League next season.
All the club needs now is for Salford people to come and support this history making team - beginning on Saturday with the home game against Warrington Town.
Saturday 13th October kick off 3pm Salford City v Warrington Town
£7/£3 Moor Lane, Kersal.
Further details at www.salfordcityfc.co.uk
Photos by Andrew Goudie
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