A bad day at Wembley for Salford City
Notts County 3 - 0 Salford City
A record-breaking season for Salford City came to a cruel end after a defeat to Notts County.
Author | Alan Thompson
Stadium | Wembley Stadium
Before the match, there was a great deal of optimism in and around Wembley. Salford fans were confident that they could win and gain promotion to League One for the first time in their history.
It was only a few months ago that the pair assumed control of the club after buying out the remaining shares held by the famed Class of ’92, who had played a central role in the Ammies’ rise from the depths of non-league football.
Four promotions in five seasons followed the initial investment by the former Manchester United quintet of Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
What happened on the pitch in the first-half?
The sun-drenched contest in London produced little in the way of attacking quality during the opening 25 minutes, with neither side managing a shot on target before the first drinks break. Once play resumed, Notts needed little time to break the deadlock.
Goals from Alassana Jatta and Lucas Ness put the Magpies into a commanding lead at the break, with James Belshaw relatively untroubled.
READ MORE | How Salford City reached the final
In addition to those goals, it was Salford's inability to keep some of Notts County’s key attacking players quiet that cost them in the first half and ultimately, the whole match.
Salford did come out positively after the break
Ben Woodburn was introduced as a substitute, and Kallum Cesay was played through one-on-one in the opening minute, but Belshaw smothered the midfielder to deny him a third goal in this play-off campaign.
Woodburn also set up a chance for Ryan Graydon, but the Irishman's connection didn't have the power to beat Belshaw who made the save.
County further consolidated their victory with 20 minutes to go, when Jodi Jones arrived late in the box to slot home substitute Conor Grant's low cross across the box.
It will be another season in League Two for Salford City after they fell a single victory short of promotion, only weeks after finishing one point outside the automatic places.
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