MATCH REPORT: Salford City settle for a draw after stalemate against Cheltenham Town

By CiaranBall on 14th December 2020 in Football, Sport

The Ammies found themselves settling for a point on Saturday after Richie Wellens side were unable to find a way to beat second place Cheltenham.

The visitors arrived at the Peninsular Stadium unbeaten in their last five games, but also found it a struggle to find a way to break the deadlock.

Both teams had the chance to win the game, with Ian Henderson lobbing over the goal and curling a shot wide before Ash Hunter lifted a shot over.

Great to see James Wilson back on the pitch 🤩#WeAreSalford 🦁🔴 pic.twitter.com/FLPT7rPzhm

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) December 12, 2020

Town also had an invitation to take the lead with Alfie May and George Lloyd both hitting the crossbar, while Cheltenham’s number one, Vaclav Hladky was on hand to keep out a number of other efforts.

Arguably the better point for Salford, Wellens said it was one of his best managerial career points.

He said: “I’m pleased with a point, in terms of my managerial career it’s one of the best points I’ve got, because you’ve only got five or six players turning up and you rarely get anything.

“I’m pleased with the attitude of the players to get a clean sheet, although we didn’t turn up in the first half.

“I think they’ll be aggrieved that they haven’t won the game, but then I think our subs came on and done really well, and I think in the last half an hour of the game our structure and our defensive shape was a lot better.”

Key moments from the goalless draw at The Peninsula Stadium.#WeAreSalford 🦁🔴 pic.twitter.com/cwvtXNhnXW

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) December 13, 2020

Next for the Ammies are league leaders Newport County on Tuesday, with Wellens suggesting that his team can use their fitness more effectively, rather than game to game.

He said: “It’s the nature of this league, it’s Saturday-Tuesday; we’re ready to go.

“We’ve got a fit group of lads, we’re fit as anything in terms of if you ask them to do 12-minute runs or put running sessions on these lads will complete it.

“What I need more of is intense football, purpose runs; I’m needing them little shuttles, them little sharp, dynamic 10-yard runs, them little angles to make space for other people.

“At times you can see we’re trying to implement new things but I have to say the subs that came on give us some stability in the game.”

Salford City could climb as high as sixth with a win tomorrow night. Newport County will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Leyton Orient.