Star date: 10th November 2013

AMMIES RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

Ossett Albion 1 Salford City 2

Salford City stormed back to form with a well deserved victory at Ossett Albion yesterday. Mark Battersby and 17 year old debutant James Kirby got the vital goals as the Ammies smashed the Yorkshire club on their horrid sloping pitch.

Match report and photos here…

`Ee-ay...ee-ay…ee-ay-oooooo, it's up the Evo-Stik First Division North we go…'

Salford City finally got back to winning ways at Ossett Albion yesterday with a victory that will, hopefully, kickstart the season and get the Ammies looking up the league to the play-offs, rather than glancing nervously over their shoulder at the teams below.

After a horrendous run of results that has seen Salford win only one game in twelve, this victory on Ossett Albion's horrid sloping pitch was well deserved, and welcomed like the bed of a partner after a three month stretch behind bars. The relief emanating from the Ammies' camp even had the Ossett cows in the next field smoking cigarettes and plumping up their pillows.

In the first half, however, things looked as bad as the storm clouds gathering over the pitch. Ossett took the lead when a long throw was headed in, and no matter how hard Salford players battled, the equaliser just wouldn't come. Nathan Bond, stood on the goal-line, couldn't connect to a swirling corner; Aaron Walters, bursting through, was denied by the keeper's arm, and Danny Browne blasted wide from a good opening. Half time: 1-0 to Ossett.

In the second half, the Ammies were a different proposition. Mark Battersby equalised within three minutes of the re-start, latching onto a cross, controlling the ball and hammering it past the Ossett keeper. 1-1.

Minutes later it could have been two, Matthew Grimshaw getting in a great header that just whizzed past the post. With Ossett under the cosh, Salford piled on the pressure, bringing on the superb Nelson Mota, who promptly caused havoc on the right wing, skipping past defenders at will.

It was one of Nelson's top runs that led to the winner, leaving two defenders for dead before snapping in a low cross that was slid home by 17 year old debutant sub James Kirby. 2-1.

As Ossett lumbered forward in search of an equaliser, keeping the cows busy by hoofing shots into their field, Salford almost made it three. In the dying seconds of the match, Mota again worked his magic on the right, crossing for Aaron Swift to see his point blank effort stopped by the keeper.

At the final whistle the team and the fans celebrated a much needed, much deserved victory. Hopefully the Ammies can kick on from here, starting in the league at home to Kendal next Saturday…

Before then Salford City play Cammell Laird (again) in the Doodson Cup on Tuesday night at Moor Lane, 7:45pm kick off.

Photos by Andrew Goudie