Salford City were beaten controversially by Peterborough United at the Peninsula in an exhilarating FA Cup first-round replay.
It took penalties to separate the two sides after 150 minutes of football, with The Posh claiming a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
The home team started the better of the two sides, with the Ammies on the front foot from minute one.
Salford snatched a very early lead in the game on 4 minutes as Curtis Tilt climbed the highest after an inswinging corner from Elliot Watt. No one was there to challenge the defender who scored for the first time this season.
Despite the early pressure and the goal from The Ammies, Peterborough began to show why they are in the running for the League One playoffs come the end of the season.
They began to move the ball well, spraying it out wide whenever the space opened up with Posh’s wingers looking quick and sharp in the early stages.
The good work from Peterborough was rewarded when they deservedly scored the equaliser on 16 minutes through a well-worked counterattack finished off by Joel Randall. He lofted the ball over the on-rushing Alex Cairns after a mistake at the back for Salford as they failed to clear their lines.
Peterborough continued to ascend, creating chances and taking shots. They took the lead only 2 minutes later when Ephron Mason-Clark stepped inside defender Ethan Ingram.
Mason-Clark took on a shot which curled and looped over the head of Alex Cairns onto the crossbar but to the Salford captain’s disappointment it bounced in, a magnificent goal for the away side.
Posh continued to put pressure on the Salford back line. They then extended their advantage on the stroke of halftime. Archie Collins put it away with a left-footed finish around Cairns.
Salford started the second half like they started the first, by taking the game to Peterborough and looking a threat.
Half-time sub Kelly N’Mai who came on at the break for Matt Smith proved to be a masterstroke from Neil Wood as he instantly began to impress.
Their confidence and desire proved to be vital as they pulled a goal back on 54 minutes as Tilt scored his and Salford’s second of the night towering over the Posh defenders to smartly head the ball past Fynn Talley.
Salford then grew in confidence and shockingly managed to equalise the game at 3-3 when Connor McLennan whipped a low fast-paced cross from the byline across goal, turned into his own net by Peterborough defender Josh Knight on 61 minutes.
Peterborough began to pile the pressure on Salford in the latter stages of regular time, but Salford defended extremely well though to keep the game level meaning it had to go to extra time.
Matty Lund took advantage of a lost Peterborough ball, passing to Stevie Mallan who rifled a right-footed rocket into the top right corner giving Salford a crucial lead.
Peterborough seemed to lose their way in the tie until the last two minutes, in which they began putting the ball out wide and asking questions of Salford.
Peterborough won a free kick deep into stoppage time, with already 90 plus 2 minutes on the clock, despite only 1 minute added time being given by the officials.
The free kick taken by Archie Collins was met in the box by prolific striker Jonson Clark-Harris who managed to scramble it over the line with what was virtually the last kick of the game.
The game went to penalties with all of the first 4 penalties converted from Mallan and Watson for Salford and Clark-Harris and Poku for Posh.
Missed penalties by Mason-Clark and Jacob Wakeling gave Ammies midfielder Elliot Watt the chance to put his side through, but his shot agonisingly hit the post and sent the game into sudden death.
Connor McLennan stepped up to take the last one but unfortunately for him and Salford, his effort clattered the woodwork, sending Peterborough United through to play Doncaster in the next round.
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