MATCH REPORT: Salford City 2-0 Oldham Athletic

Matthew Lund’s wonderfully floated header and a stunning volley by Brandon Thomas-Asante saw Salford City take three points and bragging rights over neighbours Oldham Athletic.

The visitors started better, but the home side grew into the game and finished the first half strongly thanks to Matthew Lund’s headed goal on the stroke of half-time.

City dominated for much of the second-half, penning Oldham into their own half and putting in searching crosses of ranging difficulty for the away defence to deal with.

With just over ten minutes to go, Brandon Thomas-Asante superbly volleyed home Jordan Turnbull’s flick on, from Donald Love’s long-throw.

Three points here catapulted Gary Bowyer’s men up to 11th from 16th in the League Two table.

Salford are now only six points outside of the play-off places.

Matchday Squad

Tom King was back fit for Salford and replaced Conor Ripley in goal

Ripley has returned to his parent club Preston North End as a result.

Matthew Lund and Tom Elliott also returned to starting lineup for the Ammies.

Former Latics forward Conor McAleny was on the bench after recovering from injury.

STARTING XI 📋

Here are your starters and subs to face Oldham Athletic this afternoon!

♦️ 3 changes
♦️ Tom King returns, alongside Matthew Lund and Tom Elliott
♦️ Former Latic Conor McAleny is also back from injury and on the bench#WeAreSalford 🦁🔴 pic.twitter.com/nQc6sIehRr

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) November 27, 2021

First Half

The away side started fastest, with the first chance falling Oldham’s way in the very first minute.

Zak Dearnley pulled the ball back across the box for the onrushing Davis Keillor-Dunn, who blazed his effort wide.

The opening half an hour though, was shy of many big chances.

Again though, Oldham came closest when Sam Hart found the unmarked Jamie Hopcutt in the box.

Hopcutt couldn’t angle his body correctly and fired wide.

Five minutes before half-time, the Ammies had the best chance of the half – at that point.

Josh Morris’ drilled strike cannoned off the post and back out.

The ball rebounded to Lund, who chipped over the top for Tom Elliott, but ex-Ammies defender Carl Piergianni was there to head clear for the Latics.

The home side carried their momentum forward and found themselves in front only a couple minutes later.

Morris’ deflected, stoppage time free-kick reached Lund, who glanced his header into the far left corner, leaving keeper Jason Leutwiler with no chance.

Second Half

With around five minutes played of the second-half, play was interrupted and temporarily stopped, as Oldham fans protested their ownership.

The 1,347-strong away support, threw flares onto the pitch and unfurled an ‘Abdallah Out’ banner whilst they sang anti-ownership songs.

Latics supporters reveal ‘Abdallah Out’ banner during mid-game protest.

Ex-Scunthorpe player Lund almost doubled the home advantage with just under 20 minutes to go when his off-balance shot took a nick off an Oldham defender.

The deflected effort wrong-footed the Latics goalkeeper, before trickling past the near post and out for a corner.

Then, returning Ammies forward Conor McAleny had a chance to score in his first game back from injury.

However, the Scouse striker hit his shot straight at Leutwiler, after an excellent Salford counter attack.

With 78 minutes played, Donald Love launched a long-throw into the box, which was flicked on by Jordan Turnbull and fired home thunderously by Thomas-Asante.