Salford took another step towards double promotion with their 3-1 win against Ashton United on Saturday 5 March.
So what are the five things we learned?
1) Moor Lane attracts fans from far and wide
It’s rare you get to talk about your actual experience in the press box at a game, but it was made a lot more merry by the group of lads in front of me on their stag night!
The group had travelled from Newcastle to watch the game with the lucky fella dressed as a shrimp, much to the amusement of the Moor Lane faithful.
I was told he had a fish allergy however, so hopefully he doesn’t come up in red blotches after this performance.
There is a serious point to this, the fact that thanks to the BBC and Salford University The Ammies are famous throughout the country, with people travelling from far and wide to see them, and with the documentary getting a second series that will only increase in the future, which is a major step towards the club building its reputation.
2) Evan Gumbs: Unsung hero?
There’s a lot to be said for the star quality in Salford’s side, but one who doesn’t get the same level of plaudits is Evan Gumbs.
The Tranmere loanee was excellent today, keeping the dangerous Adam Morning from dictating play and assisting a free flowing strike force in attack whenever possible.
Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley could do a lot worse than try and pursue a permanent deal for the young full back.
It would be such a waste of talent to see the young lad only be a rotation option once in awhile next year at Prenton Park especially considering how much he works for the cause.
Read: Salford City bounce back with Ashton turnover
Read: Salford City: 5 things we learned from Ilkeston win
3) Salford get physical when they want to
Ashton United under Paul Phillips and Steve Halford have a reputation for being as tough as a £2 steak.
That reputation was on display today with challenges flying in and Phillips getting a little too rough with Josh Hine.
Nonetheless, Salford responded with physicality of their own.
This was a gritty game with a war of attrition going on in midfield. However, Clark and Stopforth managed to win the battles that counted; giving Salford major momentum in terms of creating chances.
John Johnston would also be a major influence on the wing with a fine display; notching up another assist to his name this season.
These games are the kind of battles that happen when everything is on the line in the playoffs, and it’s promising that The Ammies seem to have that trait.
4) When their backs are against the wall, The Ammies deliver
This game could have been where the wheels fell off the wagon in terms of Salford’s promotion push.
Ashton had their knives out ready to claim the scalp of Salford and force them to cling on by their fingertips ahead of Workington arriving on Tuesday.
But did that phase the players? Absolutely not.
The Ammies looked relaxed on the ball, there was no sense of rushed play and Salford looked more at ease today than at any other point in the season and they got the win they deserved as a result.
With other games going their way, it was an important result to win.
5) Hine is now Salford’s most important player
Josh Hine has been superb since arriving from Chorley, he’s taken to like at Moor Lane like a duck to water.
He was unlucky not to grab a goal since he had a number of chances spurned by some great goalkeeping by Phillips.
Nonetheless, he is a vital cog in The Ammies machine, and the fact he can keep the likes of Danny Webber and Gareth Seddon on the bench is testament to that.
He may not statiscally be Salford’s best player this season, but the way he works, the way he muscled off Joe Conner and Mark Lees in defence for Ashton and the fact that he’s willing to drop deeper to pick up the ball and start plays is testament to a player who could have easily been today’s man of the match.
If he keeps this form up Johnson and Morley will have to make some difficult decisions in terms of who stays and leaves the club in the summer.
Main image by Charlotte Tattersall/@SalfordFCPhotos
