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  Salford City FC 2 Bamber Bridge 2
By Andy Giblin.
Salford City’s New Year hangover continued at Moor Lane this afternoon as tenacious ten-man Bamber Bridge earned a late point. Rhodri Giggs’ side have now taken just two points from three league matches this year in a badly time run of disappointing form that threatens to scupper their play-off aspirations. There was good news in terms of team selection, with influential central defender Raphale Evans back after injury and striker Osebi Abadaki made his Salford debut after signing from Mossley. A swirling wind and occasional bursts of rain were to make good football difficult at times, but the visitors settled quickest and Salford keeper Chris Howarth had to rush off his line in the 7th minute to block a close-range shot from Ryan Salmon. At the other end Chris Curley’s well-judged through-ball sent Osebi Abadaki clear, and the ex-Mossley man skipped past the advancing Lee Dovey only to be forced wide by the close attentions of a covering defender. Abadaki did well to keep control of the ball, but his low effort on goal from an acute angle was cleared by Brig skipper Luke Atherton. That was as close as either side were to come for quite a while as the half became decidedly scrappy. The best of the chances that did arrive went the way of Bamber Bridge, and the ever-lively Alistair Waddecar sent a free-kick from the left-hand angle of the box a foot or two wide of the far post. Just after that Danny Mahoney picked up a short clearance from Howarth, and his pass to the left picked out Waddecar who cut inside with ease before lifting a shot over the crossbar. With 25 minutes played Ryan Salmon made good ground on the right, but Salford defender Craig Flowers seemed well placed to deal with his cross. Waddecar had other ideas, nipping in to claim possession before sending a 22-yard effort over Howarth’s crossbar. Other than that there was little to excite the crowd, with many a promising build-up breaking down before there was any threat to the respective goalkeepers’ peace of mind. There was little sign of the half bursting into action as half-time approached, but burst it did, starting with a 43rd minute goal for the visitors. A long punt into the Salford half appeared to offer little danger but the ball spun of Darren Hockenhull’s thigh and Waddecar zipped in to claim possession for himself. With little or no support from team-mates there still seemed to be little danger for the Ammies, but three or four defenders were content to watch as the Brig winger jockeyed for possession before drilling a low 20-yarder just inside a diving Howarth’s right-hand upright. Bamber Bridge could argue that they just about deserved the advantage, but it was to be cancelled out just a minute or so later. The Ammies pushed forward from the restart and Abadaki’s neat touch found Gavin Salmon who turned smartly and slammed a 20-yard shot past Dovey and into the net. Two fine finishes that an otherwise unimpressive half barely deserved, but the game remained nicely poised as the teams trooped off for the tea and oranges. HALF TIME: SALFORD CITY 1 BAMBER BRIDGE 1 Salford’s Chris Curley had picked up a first half knock and was replaced by Jamie Baguley during the interval. Other than that there was little change as both sides struggled to put together much in the way of flowing footballing moves. In the 53rd minute the game swung dramatically in Salford’s favour as truculent Brig striker Ryan Salmon was shown a second yellow card following an unpleasant late challenge on home skipper Hockenhull. Brig’s Salmon had picked up his first yellow minutes earlier, and had been lucky to escape censure before the break for a couple of sneaky pushes and one outrageous dive. Needless stuff from the Brig man who had looked inventive at times, and now his side were up against it. Nevertheless they continued to work hard, and Danny Mahoney blocked Hockenhull’s attempted pass before sending Billy McKenna racing goalwards on the right. Fortunately for Salford the right-winger made it to the edge of the box before letting fly with a wild shot that flew high over Howarth’s crossbar, and for a little while after that Salford made their numerical advantage count. Even so Brig were not exactly under the cosh, and they defended diligently until the 64th minute when Baguley and Cayne Hanley combined to unlock their rearguard. Baguley’s pass to Hanley was a good one, and the through-ball that picked out Baguley’s run into the box was even better. It was a difficult chance but as Dovey advanced to close down the space Baguley slid to produce a clever, angled finish and recorded his first Salford City goal in over four years. It was looking good for the Ammies at this stage, and 5 minutes later they almost extended their lead. Baguley’s pass gave Scott Metcalfe the chance to attack on the left and he burst into the box before letting fly with a powerful shot that Dovey pushed away to his left. With the Brig defence in disarray Hanley stabbed an effort towards goal that Dovey saved, and in the ensuing scramble the visiting keeper rescued his side again as he knocked the loose ball behind for a corner. A great set of chances for Salford, but the narrow escape encouraged Brig and with 20 minutes left substitute Darren Green passed inside from the right, and Matt Mahoney’s powerful fifteen yard angled drive was deflected wide for a corner. Salford pushed forward again, but the composure to find a final ball was missing, and a number of crosses were swung into the danger area without anyone moving in to contest them. At the other end the home defence still looked shaky, and with 13 minutes left substitute Chris Marlow cut into the Salford penalty area from the left. Flowers stuck out a leg, Marlow went down and the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot. It’s been a while since a Salford keeper stopped a penalty outside of a shoot-out, but Howarth got down to his left to parry Matt Mahoney’s spot-kick. A good save, but Howarth enjoyed little luck as Waddecar capped a fine personal performance by reacting far more quickly than Salford’s defenders to place a close-range shot past the prone keeper to level the scores. Salford had hit Brig just after conceding at the end of the first half, and they almost repeated the trick here. Baguley’s introduction had stimulated Salford’s attacking capability and his pass again sent Metcalfe into space on the left wing. The cross was a good one and it looked as if Salmon would head home Salford’s third goal but he somehow failed to make contact right in front the net. The ball was played back into the box and suddenly Raphale Evans found himself in front of goal with no challenge imminent, but from 10 yards he could only lift an effort high over the crossbar. Either of those opportunities could have won the two extra points for Salford, and they continued to look for a winner as time began to run out. Five minutes from the end Alex Mortimer’s pass again gave Metcalfe a chance to cross and Salmon showed great close control as he turned and sent in a shot that was inches wide of Dovey’s right-hand post. Rhodri Giggs introduced himself into the action late on, and could have made the difference as he picked up a great through-ball from fellow substitute Steve Murty. There was space for the gaffer; right of centre and on the edge of the box but his shot was just too high to cause any problems for Dovey. The referee indicated five minutes of time added on, but Brig defended well and there were to be no more scares for the visitors before the final whistle. A hard-earned point for them, but the misfiring Ammies will look back on a number of second half chances that should have been converted. Allied to occasionally careless defending that profligacy in front of goal cost them two vital points and more ground has been lost in the race for a play-off place. There are two difficult away games to come over the next week, and the trips to the Towns of Ossett and Warrington may well shape the rest of the season for Salford City. TEAMS: SALFORD CITY; 1) Chris HOWARTH 2) Craig FLOWERS 3) Alex MORTIMER 4) Darren HOCKENHULL (c) 5) Raphale EVANS 6) James OGOO 7) Cayne HANLEY 8) Chris CURLEY 9) Gavin SALMON 10) Osebi ABADAKI 11) Scott METCALFE 12) Steve MURTY (for ABADAKI, 62nd min) 14) Jamie BAGULEY (for CURLEY, half-time) 15) Josh BARDSLEY 16) Rhodri GIGGS (for SALMON, 88th min) 17) Danny JACKSON Booked: Ogoo BAMBER BRIDGE 1) Lee DOVEY 2) George BOWYER 3) Simon LAKELAND 4) Luke ATHERTON (c) 5) Matt LAWLOR 6) Danny MAHONEY 7) Alistair WADDECAR 8) Neil REYNOLDS 9) Ryan SALMON 10) Matt MAHONEY 11) Billy McKENNA 12) Chris MARLOW (for McKENNA, 72nd min) 14) Gavin CLARK (for Danny MAHONEY 72nd min) 15) Darren GREEN (for REYNOLDS, 57th min) 16) Ciaron BARTON 17) Leon McLOUGHLIN Attendance: 102 Squad: Scorers: Gavin Salmon 44' Jamie Baguley 64' Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. 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