2nd Rnd Proper FA VASE

17th NOV

Shildon were the team which looked most positive from the opening whistle with their bright energetic start producing a couple of goalscoring chances, and troubling the surprised City defence. But it was City who opened the scoring when Tunji Moses headed the ball down and into the net from a John Robinson cross. Shildon continued their barrage, passing well and attacking with fervour. Catching City on the break, their hard work paid off as the ball was slid past City’s keeper Robertson and found the corner of the net. In the second half City had clearly had a talking to from Manager Gary Fellows as they came out with much more composure, leaving the nervy 1^st half behind them. Every attack from City looked dangerous, and it was John Robinson who was able to take the ball round the keeper and slot it in to put City in front again. City’s 3^rd goal and Robinson’s 2^nd  didn’t come too long after, which seemed to kill off Shildon’s game. Then at 3-1 ahead a goal from Craig Buckley was tapped in and almost cleared off the line after a desperate attempt by the keeper to stop the first crack at goal. Salford sealed their Victory with a hat trick goal from John Robinson! The crowd was a great turn out at around 500 with 2 coach loads of Shildon supporters and commentary at various intervals on BBC Radio Manchester from Steve Haslam.

SALFORD CITY 0   SILSDEN 1

NWCFL DIV 1

27^th OCT

SALFORD City suffered their first defeat in nine league matches after putting in a poor display at mid-table Silsden. Missing regulars Mattie Burke and Jon Robinson through suspension, City failed to rise to their usual heights in a fairly mediocre game.

And the result led to City’s lead at the top of the Vodkat-sponsored North West Counties League first division table being cut to four points by Trafford. Salford’s annoying tendency of continually finding themselves in off-side positions in the opening 30 minutes saw visiting keeper Martin Foulger have a relatively untroubled spell. Indeed it was Silsden, in their first penetrating attack of the afternoon, who almost went in front on the half-hour mark. Fortunately, City centre back Kenny Tudor was on hand to clear Dan Moriarty’s effort off the goal line.Almost immediately at the other end, Salford should have taken the lead. A neat turn in the penalty box from Dean Thurston presented Carl Lomax with an opportunity but his shot was knocked away by Foulger and Rick Watson headed over the crossbar from the resulting corner kick. With little else of note happening in the first half, the home supporters were looking forward to an improved performance after the break, but it was simply not to be City’s day. A Tommy Turner header went over the bar before the referee turned down what appeared to be genuine appeals for a penalty when Turner was tripped on his way through to goal. The referee instead awarding a free kick from just outside the box. Disaster struck with just seven minutes left on the clock. A poorly delivered Salford free kick 25 yards from the Silsden goal resulted in a quick counter attack and Thomas Dibb gladly smacked a close range shot past home keeper Andrew Robertson.

1 Robertson, 2 Keigher, 3 Myerscough, 4 Watson, 5 Tudor, 6 Moses, 7 Buckley, 8 Brackenridge, 9 Lomax, 10 Turner, 11 Thurston. Subs: Whitehead, Dunne, Morley