Ammies up to second place after dominant home display
SALFORD CITY moved up to second in the National League with a 3-0 win over Hartlepool United at The Peninsula Stadium.
Danny Lloyd scored his first goal from open play, heading in Danny Whitehead’s cross, before Adam Rooney ended his three-game drought by converting Tom Walker’s corner. The winger has been in excellent form, and completed the scoring by tapping in his fourth goal in five games.
Both Salford and Hartlepool went into the match nine games unbeaten, and both boasting respective unbeaten home and away records.
With a point and one place separating the sides for the first league meeting between the two, there was always going to be a lot at stake.
Walker went close to opening the scoring with a fierce shot from 25 yards that was pushed onto the crossbar by Scott Loach, before Rooney glanced a header goalwards that was saved and Walker again hit the bar.
Visitors Hartlepool had the odd chance but didn’t test Chris Neal too significantly, and they were made to pay by some clinical Salford finishing.
Determination was key as Scott Wiseman stretched to keep the ball in play on the right with possession falling for Walker then Whitehead, who floated the ball into the area where Lloyd came in from the left to head Salford into the lead.
Lloyd was denied in a one-on-one with Loach, but from the resulting corner Walker lifted the ball in for Rooney to run from deep and head home just five minutes later.
The game was wrapped up in the 75th minute as Walker tapped in Rory Gaffney’s cross from the left when Salford broke forward. Whitehead was involved again with a lovely ball to Gaffney down the right.