Salford City played out a hard fought 1-1 draw at Moor Lane in front of visiting Hartlepool ‘underdog’ manager Ronnie Moore, whose side take on the Ammies in the second round of the FA Cup in just over two weeks’ time.
He couldn’t have picked a worse night, weather-wise, to visit, as Storm Barney blew in and caused both sets of players no end of problems, but it was Salford who started the brighter.
After just 12 minutes Ritchie Allen again showed his calmness in front of goal as he looped a lovely ball over the stranded Mickleover keeper Max Smith-Varnham to put the Ammies 1-0 up.
Salford continued to press and not five minutes later Danny Webber had a curling shot saved by the outstretched arms of Smith-Varnham when it looked destined to double their lead.
The weather began to play its part as the players struggled to cope with the worsening rain.
Not until the 25th minute did the visitors threaten the Salford area, only for striker turned defender James Poole to nick it off the feet of Andy Dales and away to safety.
Just moments later Allen was through on goal but the wind just pushed the ball that little bit too far and the chance went begging.
It wasn’t going to stay 1-0 forever though, and just before the half hour mark, the visitors were level through Anthony Griffin jr. who caught the Salford defence napping, and after rounding keeper Jay Lynch who almost had the ball and slotted it into the bottom of the net.
Then on 33 minutes Salford had the ball in the back of the net, only for Steve Howson to be denied by the linesman who raised his flag for offside, much to the audible dismay of the home fans.
As the half came to an end, Mickleover’s Ashley Jackson was booked for a handball and after two minutes added time, the half ended.
As the second half began, so the rain and the wind got ever more difficult to deal with.
With the wind at their back, Salford were looking the more dangerous, but the Mickleover defence were resolute and the ball was just not falling for a red shirt.
After 65 minutes Andy Dales was shown a yellow for arguing with the referee, and the free kick almost went straight in as the wind gusted and almost took it past Smith-Varnham, who by now was having difficulty getting the ball out of his area with goal kicks as it was blown back time and again towards him.
As the game wore on, it became a battle against the elements as Salford pressed for a late winner, only to be thwarted time and again by the keeper and again the linesman as Allen had the ball in the net in the 72nd minute.
Even a late shout for a penalty when Poole was brought down in the 94th minute didn’t dampen the home fans spirits.
The whistle finally went, just as the rain decided to stop and both sets of fans went away damp, but happy after an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Main image: Joe Mwasile – By Charlotte Tattersall
