GAFF-ER GLEE OVER AMMIES
GRAHAM Alexander was delighted with his Salford City charges after stretching their unbeaten run to eight matches, while serving an ominous warning to the rest of the National League.
Goals in either half from Rory Gaffney and Tom Walker completely a comfortable victory over the Ravens to take them up to fourth in the table.
“It’s another win on the road and another clean sheet,” Alexander beamed.
“It was a difficult game for us and we struggled in the first half but we got the goal at a good time in the first half. The second we played and did things much better, we controlled the half and ultimately deserved the win.”
The two goals sandwiched the contentious second-half sending off of Bromley’s Adam Mekki that proved to kill the game as a contest. Mekki was adjudged to have gone in dangerously on Nathan Pond and after heavy protests from Salford players, referee Adrian Quelch produced a red card to the shock of the home fans.
Ravens boss Neil Smith could not hide his frustration at the decision at full time, commenting: “We were well in the game at half time, despite being a goal down, but I don’t think that was a red card for Mekki, I’ve watched it back and he got the ball. He gave the referee a decision to make but for me it was a yellow at best. The sending off killed the game and 2-0 wasn’t an accurate reflection of the game.”
The first half was an evenly balanced affair, perhaps just shaded by Bromley but won by Salford with their only shot on target of the half.
An excellent crossfield ball from Walker found Adam Rooney in space at the back post, his header across the goal was bravely headed past David Gregory by an onrushing Gaffney to give the Ammies the lead.
With the second following a similar pattern, Mekki’s sending off six minutes into the restart handed Salford a numerical advantage that they seized on to full effect.
Minutes later, the excellent Gaffney crossed for Danny Lloyd but the talented winger somehow side-footed wide when it seemed easier to score.
Gaffney was to be at the heart of the second goal too when his left-wing run culminated with another dangerous cross that an unmarked Walker tapped in from 12 yards.
Ten-man Bromley threatened to work their way back into the game but missed a golden opportunity 20 minutes from time. George Porter did well to work space before standing up a cross that Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe planted inches wide with Chris Neal beaten.
That was to be as good as it got for the home side as Salford comfortably saw out the game to send out a message to their promotion rivals.
STAR MAN: Rory Gaffney (Salford) ATT: 2,020 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Adrian Quelch 7/10