Bowyer’s joy as City charge for play-offs
GARY Bowyer was left delighted after his Salford City’s comeback kept alive their play-off hopes.
The Ammies started brightly but their wastefulness was punished by Rollin Menayese.
However, the visiting Saddlers’ advantage was short-lived and Matt Smith hit a leveller moments before the interval.
Despite the away side’s dominance, Salford snatched the winner when Liam Kinsella handled in the area and Ryan Watson converted from the spot.
The result meant the Ammies extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.
Salford boss Bowyer said: “There’s been a lot of upheaval and change both on and off the pitch, but what we’ve created in terms of the staff we’ve got and the players we’ve brought in, it takes time to build those foundations.
“The way that we responded and the character we showed today was terrific. It wasn’t a pretty game for sure, the first half especially there wasn’t much in the game, but I thought we upped our tempo and urgency and that was pleasing.
“I don’t think there’s any wrong time to hit form. We’ll just concentrate on the next game and we won’t get carried away”
The Ammies started promisingly with Matty Lund and Theo Vassell spurning opportunities, before Menayese’s scuffed strike wriggled into the corner beyond Frank Fielding.
Salford made a swift response after Smith was given plenty of freedom and allowed to calmly convert before the interval.
Walsall started the second half brightly and struck a post through Manny Monthe’s cheeky back-heel effort.
Kinsella conceded a penalty which Watson converted but Walsall threatened late on.
Joss Labadie had a header cleared off the line and Tyrese Shade went just wide. Walsall boss Michael Flynn was left ruing a series of missed chances.
Flynn said: “I felt we were by far the better team and we should have won; it’s only our poor defending and decision making why we lost.
“We didn’t capitalise on the chances we had, and we should have had a penalty. I’ve watched it back and how the referee’s not given it I don’t know. It’s a very bad decision.”