Salford keep Play-Off hopes alive with crucial win

Salford City kept the pressure on the top seven with a 2-1 home victory over Walsall. Ryan Watson's composed penalty proved to be the winning goal as Walsall missed a flurry of late chances.

Salford are now nine games unbeaten in League Two and have scored seven goals at the Peninsula Stadium in the past two games.

The game started slowly with neither side creating a clear-cut chance in the opening half an hour.

The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute through centre-half Rollin Menayese. Jack Earing’s set piece was met by Conor Wilkinson, the striker headed the ball back into the centre of the penalty area for Menayese to score his first Walsall goal.

A quiet first half from the hosts was all forgotten when Matt Smith slotted home on the stroke of half time. Similar to Walsall’s opener, Stephen Kelly floated a ball to the back post where Jason Lowe played in Smith to score his fourth goal for the Ammies.

Walsall started the second half the brighter with both Manny Monthe and Earing missing big chances, both flashing their efforts across the face of goal.

Matt Smith nearly had his second of the afternoon when he found himself unmarked in the six-yard, area but the striker failed to get any contact on Corrie Ndaba’s low ball.

Referee Anthony Blackhouse pointed to the penalty spot in the 65th minute when Ash Hunter’s effort was handled by a diving Liam Kinsella. The decision was met with minimal protests from the Walsall players.

Ryan Watson stepped up to take the penalty and sent Jack Rose the wrong way, giving Salford a 2-1 lead.

Brandon Thomas-Asante missed a trio of chances just after Salford’s second goal, keeping Walsall in the game.

What looked like a quiet ending to the game all changed in the fourth minute of stoppage time when George Miller was bundled to the ground inside the Salford penalty area. The travelling players, bench and fans were all in uproar as the referee waved away their appeals and blew for full time.

Despite the important win, Salford manager Gary Bowyer isn’t getting carried away. “As soon as you get carried away in this game you get a slap in the face. We got the same number of points for our first win as we do today.

“I couldn’t even tell you where we are in the league. I got told a few weeks back we were 11th so I’m assuming we are still 11th.”

The win leaves Salford in 11th spot in League Two, seven points off the play-offs with two games in hand.

Walsall sit in 16th spot as they look certain for another season of League Two football next year.