Notts County Exit FA Cup
Seventh tier Salford City progressed through to the second round of the Emirates FA Cup with victory at home to League 2 Notts County.
The Manchester side, co-owned by five former Manchester United players, scored twice after the break to seal seal victory for the underdogs.
Danny Webber foraged forward for the hosts in the first minute, he got the better of Mike Edwards but sent his cross over everyone and Notts County won the throw in.
Soon after, James Poole tried his luck from twenty yards, but Alan Sheehan did well to get his body in the way and block the strong effort.
County’s first effort on goal came in the eighth minute. A quick break forward from Kyle De Silva found Liam Noble, his cross field ball was well controlled by Jon Stead, but the striker’s shot lacked power and was easily saved by Jay Lynch in the Salford net.
Mike Edwards came closest to opening the scoring soon after, the centre back swivelling on a knock down in the box, but firing just wide of Lynch’s post.
Straight down the other end and it was Jordan Hulme who went close, also narrowly missing the far post as he let fly on the half volley from just outside the box.
The home side should have taken the lead on thirteen minutes. It was Hulme again, this time bursting through the middle and rounding Roy Carroll, taking the ball too wide in doing so and the striker couldn’t convert from six yards.
Salford had started in a frantic fashion, Lewis Hardcastle testing Carroll with a low shot, before a darting run and shot from Webber was well blocked by a resolute Sheehan.
Thierry Audel found space down the left, making a 30 yard run before sending in a dangerous cross for Stead, the striker looked ready to apply the final touch before Steve Howson threw himself in with an acrobatic clearance to get the ball clear. Straight away the hosts broke, Hulme again finding space but his shot lacked conviction again and Carroll made a routine save.
The game had settled down, the conditions making it hard for either team to keep the ball. On the 26th minute Izale McLeod picked up the first caution of the match, the referee pointing to a number of time he had penalised the striker.
Hardcastle had the crowd on their feet with ten minutes until half time, his shot rustling the net behind the goal with most of the sell out crowd thinking it had hit the back of the net.
Steve O’Halloran became the first Salford player to find his way into the referee’s notebook, the full back hauling back Stead has he raced clear down the right flank.
Having had a slight altercation moments earlier, Scott Burton brought down Liam Noble 25 yards from goal, the midfielder picking up a yellow card with five minutes left until half time. From the free kick Noble could only strike his effort into the four man wall.
After a frantic start to the game, neither side could find a chance to test the goalkeeper.
HT Salford City 0 Notts County 0
Straight from the restart Salford City took the lead. James Poole got the best of Thierry Audel on the right and he crossed for Danny Webber, the former Manchester United man tapping home from close range.
The hosts felt aggrieved soon afterwards, Hulme tumbling in the box under the challenge of Audel, the referee quick to wave away the appeals.
The lively Hulme really should have doubled the home side’s advantage just before the hour mark. He broke free on the left, turning inside Edwards before curling towards goal. The ball beat Carroll in the Notts net, but the striker could only watch as his shot struck the crossbar and bounced clear.
Jimmy Spencer replaced Alan Smith, as Ricardo Moniz’s team went in search of an equaliser.
However it was Roy Carroll who was next called into action, saving well down low from Danny Webber’s low drive.
County very almost had the equaliser the were after on 66 minutes. Substitute Adam Campbell chased down a short back pass, blocking Lynch’s clearance only to see Steve Howson slide in to clear the ball off the line for a corner.
Stanley Aborah’s mazy run saw the midfielder break into the box, he turned back and curled an effort towards the top corner, the ball deflecting off a defender for a corner to the visitors. The corner was delivered to the backpost, with no one able to convert.
A minute later and it was two to the hosts. Richie Allen freed himself of three Notts defenders on the home side’s left, breaking into the box before curling past Carroll and into the bottom corner.
Despite the away side throwing caution to the wind, they couldn't find the goal to get them back into the cup tie and Salford City comfortably saw out the added time to qualify for the second round.
Carroll, Smith (Spencer 64’), Noble, Hewitt (Jenner 82’), De Silva (Campbell 56’), Stead, Audel, Aborah, Edwards, McLeod, Sheehan
Unused Subs: Loach, Amevor, Thompson