Rhys Healey continued his scoring form as Nomads dominated the first half, while John Rushton saved a dubious Salford penalty award in a more evenly contested second half.

On a sultry night on a good pitch, we received a warm welcome from the hospitable Salford club. Nomads were missing six key players, but welcoming back Michael Robinson; we went on to demonstrate the strength in depth of the squad by winning against decent opposition in Manchester.

We put in a first class performance in the opening half and only a mix of outstanding goalkeeping and poor finishing prevented us from going in six goals ahead. A very even second period saw both sides make and miss chances. A dubious “home” penalty decision gave Jon Rushton chance to shine with a flying penalty save, before a cracking Michael Thompson drive sealed a good win.

From the kick off we dominated possession and with Ricky Evans playing well as a target man, he sent Jamie Petrie away and saw the ball returned for a shot well blocked by ex-Halifax man Ible. We threatened in fine style and edged into an 11th minute lead when Ricky Evans played a well-judged ball over the top and Rhys Healey  kept his cool and chipped a perfect finish over the advancing Stevenson.

As we powered on, Michael Thompson took a pass from Tigger into the box and hit a close-range half-volley from a tight angle on the left. and Stevenson produced a tremendous diving save to keep out the goal bound effort. Then a spell of pressure from the home side produced a left-flank corner and ex Bala man James Holden delivered a great cross, but Bellamy’s header come back off the bar and the ever present Ricky Evans coolly headed the rebound back to the Nomads keeper.

We soon re-established control and Tommo surged through before being completely taken out by a lunging challenge from Stevenson just inside the box. It looked a clear penalty and in a League fixture the Salford goalkeeper would have  taken an early bath. However, the referee took the ball back to the edge of the penalty area and Ricky Evans free kick sailed over the bar. Ricky Evans was a man on fire and another clever lofted pass from him fell to Tigger inside the box and his touch found Danny Tring on the left. Stevenson, who was lucky to still be on the pitch, rescued Salford with another brilliant show of strong hands.

Salford had the edge in a second half, as they missed the sort of opportunities that we had done in the opening period. Another dubious decision from the referee in the 49th minute saw Salford awarded a penalty. After Holmes had hit a shot that flew high over the bar, the ref decided he had seen a foul in the build up. Holden’s spot-kick was decent enough, but John Rushton dived to his right to push the ball clear and justice was done.

In the 59th minute, Salford’s Baguley delivered a perfect curling ball into the box for Yarwood, but he misdirected his header wide. As Salford continued to push on, Kinsella scooped over the bar from a dozen yards out. It was end to end now, when Holden uncharacteristically lost possession to Thompson, who was away on a run and a shot from the edge of the home side's box. Stevenson again saved brilliantly, pushing the goal bound effort around his right-hand post.

On 75 minutes a Baxter cross was headed clear, but only as far as Michael Thompson who hit a rasping low volley into the net.

Salford’s Kinsella, then had a hat-trick of disallowed goals. He was clearly offside when moving to head home a cross and was even further offside when taking a neat pass and clipping into the net. But in the last minute, a good pass from Holmes found Kinsella, who again netted. Only for a third off side goal decision in under 15 minutes, which was marginal.

The match finally ended as it had began, with Healey's goal bound shot excellently blocked by Salford’s Ible.

Nomads:

John Rushton, Danny Dobbins, Danny Tring, Mark McGregor, Michael Robinson, Craig Jones (c), Jamie Petrie, Chris Rowntree, Rhys Healey, Ricky Evans, Michael Thompson

Nomads Subs:

Callum Hawthorne for John Rushton (78), Ryan Jones for Michael Robinson (45), Jordan Beck for Danny Tring (65), George Baxter for Jamie Petrie (74).
 
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http://www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/results-item.php?id=219