City 2 Salford 1

Back to winning ways, but no thread on the match!

Can someone post the team; the defence has done a lot better, was Steel back?

A decent attendance of 232 as well; the Ramsbottom result can't have put too many off.

Team was; Hale; Wills, Hudson, Marshall, Elderton; Winder, Hunter, Akrigg, Ince; Jackson; Wearing.
Some subs came on in the 2nd half.
Not terribly fluent or convincing although we were much the better team & it was good to pick up 3 points for the 1st time in what seems like ages?
I really don't know how the attendance figures are arrived at....supposedly yesterdays crowd was just 17 less than the cup replay?

Steel was still injured, also Henry, and we did look a bit shaky at the back at times.  Some good performances elsewhere though still a lack of cutting edge - we made numerous decent half-chances and should have scored more than two.  Kilifin also missed the game through injury which didn't help, though Wearing played well at number 9.

Salford defence not strong especially when we attacked down the left with Elderton, Ince and Wearing combining well.  Winder also looked good on the right.

We did get two good goals - the first from Winder, from a quickly taken corner before their defence had time to organise - good thinking there - and the second a cracker from Ryan Elderton well outside the box.

Overall a very entertaining game but probably far too open for DP's liking!

Hale, Wills, Elderton, Hudson, Marshall, Akrigg, Winder, Hunter, Wearing, Jackson, Ince.  Subs Liley for Wearing, Sawicki for Ince, Clark for Hudson (injured), all fairly near the end.  MOTM Ryan Elderton.

Only saw the second half, and whilst we were deserving of the win we did look quite shaky at the back - Steel is a big miss. Hunter and Jackson stood out with their composure, and Winder and Ince carried a threat on the flanks.

Not seen a full teamsheet so some questions over players...
Winters? - I presume we didn't sign him in the end because we signed Steel and we have Hudson to sit on the bench. Or is it the international clearance thing?
Taylor? - Is he still around?
Mahoney? - On the bench today?

Thanks for the team and reports.

Whilst I wasn't at the game I understand Mahoney didn't exactly endear himself to management and supporters the way he reacted when taken off the other week. And doesn't he have a reputation for throwing his dummy out of the pram when he is left out? If he's not injured, and didn't come on yesterday, you wonder if he's already cleared off.

A bit of a battling three points, which is good. We seemed to be the better team,but were under pressure for periods. In the last few minutes they had numerous corners & free kicks which we actually defended pretty well, but there were also times when we looked really shaky at the back & resorted to the "big boot", which isnt always a bad thing, except when it goes more or less straight up in the air! We did create numerous half chances, but I have said for a while that a shortage of goals will undo us this season (although it was pointed out to me that if we have four or five players that score 10 goals, we really dont need someone that scores 25, but I'm still not so sure) I am not really sure what our best starting 11 is (I would say Hale, Eldo Marshie, Steel, Hunter, Jacko & Ince are nailed on) we seem to have options all over, I wonder how sure Darren is? Have to say that I like Billy Akrigg in center midfield though
Glenn Steel & Rob Henry were both stood on the West Road terrace (signing autographs at one point  ) during the second half, Danny Mahoney was on the bench, & warmed up both before the game with the rest of the squad & at half time with the other subs.

If not before, it'll be good to see Glenn &/or Rob fit for the Darlo game a week Saturday.

I hope Danny Mahoney doesn't go elsewhere.

Deserved win but it would have been a lot less nervy towards the end if we had put away just one of those 20+ other half chances we created. We seemed to leave our shooting boots in the dressing room.

Elderton back made a big difference and the defence was certainly a bit more stable than on Tuesday but still had it's shaky moments. I like Winder and Ince as wingers as they both have great ball control and pace. The only change I might make is Kilifin in for Wearing as young Simon has been a good impact sub and I felt we just lacked that natural finisher yesterday.

Hopefully Henry and Steel are back soon and it's happy days.

Salford City have a fantastic match report here: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/salfordcityfc/s/match-centre-72445/1-793849

Worth noting even their reported said their goal was offside. The standard of Evo-Stik referees never fails to live up to it's reputation.

alasher wrote:I am not really sure what our best starting 11 is (I would say Hale, Eldo Marshie, Steel, Hunter, Jacko & Ince are nailed on) we seem to have options all over, I wonder how sure Darren is? Have to say that I like Billy Akrigg in center midfield though

I think most of best XI is pretty clear, Hale, Henry, Steel, Marshy, Eldo, Winder, Hunter, Ince, and Jacko would be easy picks for me. Then its whether you pick Akrigg (merited at moment) or Mahoney (reputation) in midfield, and who to pick as striker (Kilifin for me).

Simon Wills has started every game since Burscough. Although not the best right back at the club certainly good enough for Right hand side or centre midfield. I thought it was an entertaining game and if our final ball had been a little better and chances taken we would have won more convincing. Ben Hudson never let us down and he does clear it a fair distance and well out of danger. Billy Akrigg looks far better in the centre and is more composed on the ball. Ryan Winder also had a good game and it was only his 2nd start. For me Ryan Elderton was man of the match and we certainly miss him when he is out. Hopefully we can try that again it may work for another goal if Ryan hits it like Saturday. Also we only have 3 players who have started every game Neil Marshall Gary Hunter and Mark Jackson. It is a squad game and I am sure Darren picks his starting eleven which is best to win each game. A decent crowd and if we play like on Saturday more will come down. Darlington will be over 500 but it would be nice to get near to 300 for the rest.