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High fives for City

Frank McCauley
27/ 1/2005

NW Counties One
Salford City 5
Abbey Hey 2

A lethal display of finishing helped Salford secure their first victory of the new year - and their first points since the end of November.

The Moor Lane outfit posed a serious goal threat throughout and a Matthew Barnes brace and one each from Gareth Ormes, player-manager Darren Lyons and Jordan Burke sealed a much-needed win.

South African-born midfielder Ormes opened the scoring after 15 minutes when he drilled a shot past Hey goalkeeper Jamie Mottershead from 20 yards.

Barnes made it two on the half-hour mark when he controlled strike partner Darren Wardle's header and, in one movement, turned and stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

Mike Morse pulled one back for the visitors before the break but City raised the tempo again in the second half.

Mottershead parried Ormes effort but, from the resulting corner, Barnes slammed the ball into the roof of the net to extend Salford's lead.

Lyons expertly dispatched a penalty awarded for a foul on Burke, and midfielder Burke capped a fine display with his first goal for the club soon after. In between, Andy Watson scored from the spot for Abbey.

Saturday's game at fourth-placed Ramsbottom United will test Salford's new found belief.

However, with their defence looking a lot stronger since the arrival of Paul Taylor, Tyrone Grant and Mike Weedon, City will go into the contest confident of springing an upset.