This Saturday Salford City will be looking to extend their unbeaten run at home to eight games as they host AFC Telford at Moor Lane in the Vanarama National League North. (KO 15:00)
The Ammies sit second and go into this encounter with seven wins in their last nine league matches, last week taking three points from a resolute Stalybridge Celtic side thanks to a Mike Phenix goal.
Salford’s impressive run has seen them go seven league games unbeaten at home – in which they have scored 17 goals and concede none – the last side to score at Moor Lane in the league being Tamworth back in October.
While Telford also come into this match on the back of a 1-0 win – theirs coming over Tamworth last week courtesy of a Paul McCone strike – the Bucks sit in 16th.
Rob Smith’s men have shown they are a tough side to beat and in their last away game they earnt an invaluable point against runaway leaders AFC Fylde – a Lee Hughes debut goal giving them a 1-1 draw.
When the sides met earlier in the season Salford came out on top as they left New Bucks Head with a 2-0 win after goals from current skipper and ex-Telford man Simon Grand and James Poole.
Phenix’s goal last week was his 15th this season – the front man has five in his last six games and will hope to continue that run against Telford.
Loan-duo George Green and Nick Haughton have both impressed since arriving at Salford and will be attempting to cause problems for the Telford defence.
While Grand, who celebrated his 33rd birthday earlier this week, will be looking to marshal his defence to an eighth straight home league clean sheet. But he may also have one eye on scoring at the other end against his former club – he has six goals this campaign.
For Telford – their chief threat is Hughes – the former West Brom, Coventry and Notts County man joined the club from Worcester City earlier in the month and has one Bucks goal in two appearances – but 13 in all this season.
Josh Wilson will also be hoping to cause Grand and co problems come Saturday – the former Fylde striker has seven goals in 24 games this term.
Telford will also be buoyed by the signing of young goalkeeper Callum Burton who joins on loan from League One Shrewsbury Town.
The Ammies have 15 clean sheets in the league to Telford’s 11 – so the match up sees two well-drilled defensive units face off.
However, saying that – Telford have just one win on the road this season – so it’s hard to look past a win for Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson’s men.
Matt Bullin
@matt_bullin01
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