Salford City

The Peninsula Stadium, Moor Lane, home of Salford City based in Greater Manchester and play their trade in League 2. Nicknamed the “Ammies” after the club’s previous name being ‘Salford Amateurs’ when the club first formed.

Back in 2014, this club was taken over by 5 former Manchester United players in a bid to take this club up. 5 years later and this club completed it’s remarkable rise and were promoted to the Football League for the first time ever! They’ve been in League 2 ever since and are knocking on the door of the play-offs this season but the visitors today Mansfield Town are knocking on the door of automatic promotion… It’s going to be a cracker!

A big game for both clubs today and an unwanted first for me… For the first time and hopefully the only time I’ll be in the other end to the Mansfield fans… A smaller away end and I didn’t manage to get a ticket in time… But I’m not missing this game… Or this ground as there are plans to move to a different ground for Salford. But will I be the only Stag in the home end today?

The journey across Snake Pass through Glossop and into Salford sees me here with over an hour to go before kick off. Now for the walk to the ground. Just down the road and here I am with the Super Stag, Tom, Jack G, Lewis HC and Louis! The atmosphere is building as kick off draws near and an awful lot of fancy dress in the away end… Man I wish I was in there today! Time goes on and it’s time to part ways for the first away day ever… Come to think of it, this ground is in the middle of nowhere… Gary Neville’s Garden?

£15 to get in here! Fab! The atmosphere is building especially in the away end! Gary Neville is here! He’s running across the pitch! Out come the players to a wall of noise especially from the away end! “Nigel Clough’s Barmy Army! We are going up!”

Kick Off! “Salford! Salford! Salford!” A bit of noise from the home end now. 2 minutes in and Salford have a free kick on the left in the Mansfield half, it’s whipped in, Jordan Turnbull with the header… It’s in!! A free header… A great start for Salford! 1-0!

8th minute now and Mansfield come forward, it’s played in from the right and here’s Matty Longstaff at the back post… OH! It’s just wide! So close! 15 minutes gone and Mansfield have a free kick on the edge of the box, Stephen McLaughlin steps up… AND HE’S SCORED!!! Brilliant free kick… And I can’t celebrate it… I’m not that jealous of those limbs I promise… 1-1!!

26th minute and Theo Vassell has it for Salford in his half… But Rhys Oates comes in and dispossesses him and he charges at goal, he gets into the box and the keeper comes… He’s gone down… Referee has given a corner, looked like a Penalty from my view but he must have got the ball there. In comes the corner… Mansfield give away a free kick.

35 minutes on the clock and Salford play a through ball to Matt Smith, no flag here, he goes around the keeper and shoots… Brilliant save by Nathan Bishop there!! Into stoppage time in the first half now and Mansfield have a free kick in the Salford half, it’s lumped into the box… Did that come off a Salford hand…? Yes! Says the Referee! Penalty! Good decision for me… No bias involved there! You can’t wave your hands up like that as a defender! Stephen McLaughlin steps up again… AND HE ROLLS IT IN!!! MANSFIELD LEAD!!! 1-2!! That is the last action of the half with the score at 1-2 and the Mansfield fans are in good spirits now!!

Believe it or not, I am not the only Stag in the home end today! We’re massive!! My good old neighbour Dave is here and we’re off for a half time drink! Time goes on discussing Mansfield’s possibilities this season and it’s time for the second half!

Second half, “Blue & Yellow Barmy Army!” Mansfield fans still in good spirits! 52 minutes now and Salford play forward down the left, it’s crossed into the middle, it’s a free header for Matty Lund… He’s got it! Salford are level! No one anywhere near him! As free a header as they come! It’s 2-2!

2 minutes later and Salford have a corner, in it comes… It’s Matty Lund with the header again!! He’s hit the post! So close for Salford! 66th minute and Mansfield play forward, it’s played to George Maris on the edge of the box and he goes for the far corner… OH! Just wide!

It’s an end to end game… You feel that there is another goal in this but it could be for anyone! Both teams need a win in their respective seasons! Will anyone break the deadlock? 87 minutes on the clock and Salford come forward down the left, it’s played in, it comes for Henderson… It’s just wide!

Into the 90th minute and the ball falls for Rhys Oates who charges forward and he’s broken free here, he gets into the box and he goes for goal… Good sliding challenge there from the Salford defender! Into stoppage time and Mansfield break forward with Rhys Oates, he gets into the box on the left and he shoots… Keeper parries and it comes to Jordan Bowery!! No! He can’t get it under control and Salford clear… Game over! A draw which doesn’t help any club respectively but a good game all in all!

FT: Salford City 2-2 Mansfield Town

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 7/10 – Brilliant from the Mansfield fans once again! Pyros, beach balls the lot! Salford fans gave it a good go as well!
• The Ground: 5/10 – It’s a nice little setup but for me it’s not a Football League ground! A bit too small for me but I do like the standing terraces behind each goal but there’s nothing else to say about the ground in my opinion sadly…
• Expense: 10/10 – £15 for League 2 is good these days and it was a good game to see for the neutral for sure!
• Overall Experience: 7/10 – A decent day out but a shame Mansfield couldn’t win and a shame I couldn’t be amongst them! But I am looking forward to visiting the new ground when that time comes!

29/40