Salford beat Chester to progress in Northern Conference Cup

UNIVERSITY of Salford Men’s 1s team came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and secure a spot in the last 32 of the Northern Conference Cup.

Goals from Khaled M, Sam Hatton and Ioannis Stouppis gave Salford victory after Chester got the best of the first 25 minutes.

Khaled’s volley made the score 2-1 just before the ref blew for half time before Stouppis brought the game level in the 51st minute with a well-timed finish.

The winner was scored by Sam Hatton after he headed home to bring the score to 3-2 with just six minutes of the match remaining.

Chester had the better of the opening 25 minutes, scoring a great goal early on.

Buoyed by their opening goal, Chester dominated before eventually adding a second with a well-timed header past Salford keeper Kane Andrews.

It was after this that the home side really got into the game and started to dominate as chances were being created with almost every attack.

Their domination eventually ended with a goal from Khaled M. in the 44th minute of the game after the ball was recycled from a corner and whipped in by Ryan Cain.

Salford’s domination continued into the second half, with Chester being restricted to only a few clear chances.

Stouppis’ 52nd minute goal bought the score to 2-2 after another great ball by Cain set him up to finish deftly to the keeper’s right.

Cain again assisted in the dying minutes of the game, this time giving the ball to Hatton who headed it beyond the keeper’s reach and into the net, completing the comeback.

After a 2-1 win over the University of Central Lancashire 1s in the league last week, Salford will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season, in all competitions, with a good result against Lancaster University 1s next Wednesday.

Salford XI: Kane Andrews, Andrew Clifford, Pauli Loukoli, Lewis Smith, Ross Walker, Sam Hatton (Booked),
Joe Robinson, Mitch Andrews, Ioannis Stouppis, Ciaran Vesey, Ryan Cain.

Subs: Khalid M, Iain Milner, Matt King.

Chester XI: Jack McGovern, Josh Dilworth, Sam Locking, Jack Davis, David Wright Elliot, Joe Tummino,
Joe Burke, Ellis Ansah (Booked), Steve Ball, Loqa Nassarat, Conor Chaney.

Subs: Sam Browning, Jake Roberts, Michael Roberts, Chris Wittaker.

By Daniel George