IT’S SEVEN UP FOR AMMIES!
SALFORD City extended their unbeaten run to seven games but needed a Shamir Mullings own-goal just after halftime to overcome managerless Maidstone.
Striker Mullings had come back to help out his defence for a corner but only succeeded in planting a header beyond his own keeper Lee Worgan.
Ammies boss Graham Alexander, however, felt it was no less than his side deserved, however, saying: “We should have taken our opportunities in the first-half and it was important we started the second positively.
“It was vital we followed an excellent performance at Fylde in midweek with another win so for us it’s a case of job done.”
Salford started the brighter and top scorer Adam Rooney had the ball in the net early on only to be denied by the assistant’s raised flag.
Indeed, the home side domflashed inated for long spells in the first-half without really creating much in the way of clear-cut openings.
Rooney forced a save from Worgan with a low shot from Rory Gaffney’s cross from the right, while Worgan was again called upon to push the ball over the top to deny Tom Walker’s rising drive.
Maidstone, still reeling from the shock departure of manager Jay Saunders last week, did come close themselves, however, when Mullings latched onto a through ball, powered away from two defenders but from just inside the box he could only direct a low effort just wide of Chris Neal’s left-hand post.
Salford’s luck, however, changed two minutes into the restart when Danny Lloyd delivered an inviting corner over from the left and Mullings could only plant a header past his own keeper.
Ten minutes later, Gaffney an angled drive from the right just wide of the far post.
Maidstone, to their credit, pushed forward in search of an equaliser and were almost handed a gift when Scott Wiseman’s under-hit backpass was pounced upon by Loza but Neal advanced quickly to clear.
Salford, too, finished with a flourish, but either goalkeeper were seriously tested before referee Glen Hart signalled the end of an intriguing game.
Maidstone caretaker boss Steve Watt was disappointed with another narrow defeat, adding: “We did well to weather the first-half storm before the break yet could still created two great chances.
“At the start of the second half we shot ourselves in the foot – we seem to find a way to lose games at the moment.”