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City close the gap on Town

29/11/2001

NW Counties Div One - Salford City 1 St Helens Town 0

EVEN with the fixtures less than half completed this was a vitally important victory for Salford, writes Frank McCauley.

It now moves them to within two points of the visitors at the top of Division One.

The game itself was an absorbing affair between two well-matched teams and, after a scoreless first half, it seemed more and more likely to be decided by a solitary goal. Not that there weren't opportunities in the opening period but both sides were restricted to mainly half chances.

As early as the second minute City felt they had cause for a penalty when Mattie Hughes was pulled down but the referee awarded a free outside the box. Later in the half, matters were evened out when a similar decision was made at the opposite end of the pitch.

Hughes might have put Salford into the lead after 25 minutes but he knocked the ball too far in front, having rounded the 'keeper and the chance was lost.

Salford came closest to a goal when visiting centre half Mark Nulty headed against his own crossbar.

The second half began in similar vein and within five minutes City's Russell brought a good save from Phil Wood in the Town goal.

Not to be outdone, Melville pulled off an excellent save at the other end to deny Cooper. In the next attack Hughes stood up well to his marker but his shot was just over.

The only goal of the game came on 57 minutes. A well-worked move saw Russell nod down a deep Hughes left wing cross perfectly into the path of captain Gary Vaughan, who calmly set himself up before rifling a strong, low drive into the bottom corner.

The visitors stepped up the pressure in search of the equaliser but found City's midfield and defence equal to the task.

Recent signing from Skelmersdale United, centre back Dave Chadwick, was in the thick of the action and despite sustaining a shoulder injury, he handled anything Town had to offer either in the air or on the ground.

Salford are without a match this weekend, their next game being at Glossop on Tuesday night, kick off 7.45pm, followed by another away fixture next Saturday at Atherton Colls (3pm).