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Bedlam at City

23/ 2/2006

Salford City 0
Alsager Town 1

SALFORD City's clash of the titans with Alsager failed to live up to the pre-match billing but it will be remembered for controversial moments both off and on the pitch.

Third-placed Salford and second-placed Alsager cancelled each other out in the first half of Saturday's North West Counties first division game.

Salford's John Robinson and Nick Robinson got in each other's way when clean through on goal while Andy Pendlebury headed inches wide from another set piece.

The second half turned into a bad tempered affair.

As the challenges became meatier, a member of Alsager's coaching staff got involved with a melee on the pitch.

Wes Bancroft's 65th minute run ended with a low shot and as the goalkeeper scooped up the ball an Alsager defender appeared to stamp out at the young striker and the assistant referee flagged for a foul.

The ball was out of play when the referee went to consult with his assistant and, to the amazement of the crowd, he picked up the ball and allowed the Alsager goalkeeper to punt an unchallenged drop ball up field.

To make matters worse, Alsager took the lead with a close range strike.

There was further trouble after the final whistle when the same member of Alsager's coaching staff had to be dragged away after an altercation with spectators. Both sets of players got involved in the disturbing scenes.

City travel to Ramsbottom United for a Challenge Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday, February 25, kick-off 3pm, and entertain Stone Dominoes in the league on Tuesday, February 28, kick-off 7.45pm.