Salford City survived late pressure from Newport County to record their first win since August courtesy of a Newport own goal.
Neil Wood’s side had lost their last six games on the spin, but the losing streak was ended when Kelly N’Mai’s shot was deflected into the Newport goal in stoppage time of the first half.
Salford City’s team saw returns for Ethan Ingram and Declan John who missed out on the midweek visit of Premier League Burnley as a result of being cup-tied. There was also a return to the side for Luke Bolton from injury.
Salford had early half chances with a Kelly N’Mai cross being cut out and some intricate play down the left side.
However Newport looked the more dangerous side after the opening ten minutes, a teasing Adam Lewis cross going untouched and an effort from Bryn Morris going just wide.
Salford got the first goal of the game against the run of play when Matty Lund headed in at the near post, losing his man with a burst of pace to power Declan John’s in-swinging corner into the Newport net on 23 minutes.
Matty Lund’s first goal of the season 🎯#SALNPT || @loveholidays
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) October 1, 2023
Seconds after going a goal up Stevie Mallan hit the Newport post with a bending effort from 20 yards out. Salford had their tails up.
Newport should have been level when Elliot Watt’s loose pass was picked up in the Salford third but Aaron Wildig sent his effort high and wide of the Salford goal.
On 31 minutes, the Exiles drew level, more sloppy passing in the Salford half was cut out by Newport and the ball was fired back across goal and past goalkeeper Alex Cairns.
The outstretched boot of Alex Cairns stopped Newport from taking a quick-fire lead when the visitors again found themselves winning the ball high up the pitch, Omar Bogle’s low effort testing the Salford captain.
Salford should have regained the lead on 36 minutes when a low cross from Declan John found Matty Lund unmarked in the box but the Midfielder failed to get enough on the ball to direct it goalwards.
However, in the last seconds of the first half Salford regained the lead. Kelly N’Mai, who had been a livewire all half, ran at his fullback and fired in a low cross which Newport defender Declan Drysdale turned into his own net.
N’Mai, who was unfortunate to have his effort go down as an own goal, would have been the youngest permanent Salford player to score a goal for the Ammies.
HT – We take a lead into the break 👊
[2-1] #SALNPT || @salboyltd pic.twitter.com/q4P3pyQvvo
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) September 30, 2023
Salford started the second half stronger than the first half, with a number of half chances just not falling their way in the opening ten minutes of the second period, with Matt Smith failing to latch on to a lofted cross from Luke Bolton.
Newport thought they had levelled on the hour mark when Will Evans bundled the ball in the back of the net in a six-yard box scramble but the goal was ruled out by the linesman for offside.
Evans should have pulled the visitors level six minutes later when he found himself free in the box but headed far wide.
N’Mai continued to look bright for the home side and unleashed a shot at goal from a tight angle after cutting inside which was well blocked by Drysdale.
Newport were still applying pressure to the Salford backline, who have not kept a clean sheet in the league since the opening day.
Evans continued to look the most likely to score for the south-Wales side when he was found in space on the corner of the box but again failed to get his attempt at goal on target.
Salford should have been home and dry with ten minutes to go. A loose ball fell to Ryan Watson who ran through on goal but the midfielder put his effort wide of the post as he ran through 1v1 against Townsend.
Nathan Wood smashed an effort at goal and into a crowded box which could have gone anywhere but fortunately for the home side the ball went all the way through for a goal kick
Kiban Rai found himself at the back post to head at goal but Alex Cairns comfortably held the effort in goal at his near post.
An outstanding performance from this young man 👏@kellnmai10 is your Player of the Match, powered by @TheTurmericCo 🏆#SALNPT || @TheTurmericCo pic.twitter.com/eZJu03HUlz
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) September 30, 2023
Salford had needed to hold off a lot of opposition pressure, but they saw the result for a huge three points at the Peninsula stadium in front of over 2,000 supporters.
Neil Wood’s men will travel to Sutton United on Tuesday night, looking to build upon this result and move further up the League Two table.
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