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Rock bottom

Frank McCauley
28/ 8/2008

SALFORD City are rooted to the foot of the UniBond League First Division North table following a double-whammy of defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend.

They lost 4-1 at joint second-placed Clitheroe on Bank Holiday Monday and were edged out 1-0 at home to table-topping Skelmersdale United two days earlier.

As a result, newly-promoted City have just one point on the board four games into their first ever UniBond adventure and it is fair to say that they are finding life difficult in the higher league.

However, City got off to a dream start at Clitheroe. And when striker Jon Robinson put them in front with a neat finish after seven minutes there was little happening on the pitch to suggest that the visitors would be out of the game by half-time. Robinson clinically placed the ball past home keeper James Mann after some neat link-up play had set him free through the middle of the home side’s defence.

Twenty minutes later, City’s failure to clear a simple ball allowed Clitheroe’s experienced Craig Sargison to level the scores with a strong shot past Salford keeper Martin Campbell.

Robinson then went close to scoring on two occasions and his Salford teammate Mattie Campbell had strong penalty claims turned down by the referee.

But Clitheroe turned the game on its head with three goals in a ten-minute spell before the half-time break. City’s defence, which had performed well in their previous UniBond matches, was torn apart on too many occasions and mistakes led to former Salford players Anthony Johnson and Carl Lomax both netting while Sargison claimed his second goal of the afternoon.

The second half was all about keeping the scoreline respectable for the visitors and Clitheroe failed to add to their tally despite going close on a number of occasions.

Salford put in a more encouraging display against highly fancied Skelmersdale on Saturday.

Skelmersdale were forced to battle hard for the three points.

City matched their opponents in the first half but they tired in an open and lively second period. Skelmersdale began to create chances and Mark Houghton hit a close range winner on 77 minutes.

Salford were dealt another crushing blow in the last minute when Lathan Forrester was red carded for retaliation.

City travel to Lancaster City in the preliminary round of the FA Cup on Saturday, August 30, kick-off 3pm. Should the tie require a reply it will take place at Moor Lane on Tuesday, September 2, kick-off 7.45pm. Otherwise, Salford will play at Woodley Sports in the President’s Cup that night.