Salford City salvaged a vital point at Moor Lane as they played out a 1-1 draw against Nantwich Town.
The visitors would take the lead within half an hour thanks to Josh Hancock and The Dabbers’ dogged defending and Salford’s inability to take chances saw the scoreline unchanged for most of the game.
That was until Richie Allen scored a magical goal from outside the box to equalise in injury time.
The result guarantees Salford’s place in the playoffs.
With Blyth Spartans beating Matlock town 2-0, all eyes will be at the War Memorial Atheltic Ground as Salford take on Stourbridge in their last game of the season.
Both teams started at a breakneck end-to-end pace and when Jordan Hulme received the ball in the opening minute the forward’s shot fell just the wrong side of the post.
The visitors responded quickly with playmaker Elliott Osborne delivering a bending pass to James Baillie; the full-back managed to find some space for himself on the right wing but couldn’t direct his cross which was dealt with swiftly by the Ammies defence.
The best chance fell to Ammies captain Chris Lynch just after the quarter hour.
The defender inadvertently found himself in prime location after a Danny Webber shot was deflected in the box but proved why his best position is at the back as his shot blazed over the bar.
It was a chance Salford should have taken, and less than 10 minutes later The Dabbers took the lead in the 26th mintue when Hancock met Sean Cook’s inswinging corner with his head.
Salford were in the ascendancy as the first half drew to a close and Joe Johnston came closest to levelling the scores, rifling a powerful shot from just outside the 12-yard box. However, his shot was superbly parried by Hungarian goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai.
After the break Hancock turned from first half hero to second half villain, his awful challenge on Scott Burton saw him receive his marching orders.
Even with the man advantage Salford still couldn’t break the visitors down.
Even Gumbs was brought on for Chris Lynch in order to give an injection of pace down the right wind, the Tranmere loanee did that within minutes as he made a lightning run down the right wing that left Baillie for dead. However, the prospect mishit his cross as it went well over the penalty box.
Nantwich came under increasing pressure to maintain their lead and a mistimed challenge on Webber saw the referee point to the spot without hesitation.
The Manchester United academy graduate hit the post with his spot-kick as it started to look like nothing would go right for the Ammies in their final home game.
After a mammoth nine minutes injury time (courtesy of Matt Bell receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch) Salford would get the equaliser that they had been yearning for, and deserved.
Supersub Allen, who had been the hero for many a cup tie this season, once again made magic out of nothing with a (dare it to be said) Steven Gerrard-esque thunderbolt from outside the box three minutes into injury time.
Speaking after the match Johnson admitted: “We’ve played some great football, they’ve scored against the run of play, and then obviously they’ve had a man sent off – harsh – and we get a penalty; whether it was a penalty or not I don’t know, it’s one of them isn’t it.”
“As soon as Richie Allen come on he changed it, the dynamic of the game, the tempo of the game, because we started the second half pretty well then after the sending off and the injury the game slowed down a little bit, but once Richie came on he changed the pace of the game.
“I thought all in all we were a miles better side, we definitely deserved something out of the game but fair play to Nantwich for holding on as long as they did and getting a point with 10 men.”
The game was also significant for captain Chris Lynch, who made his 100th appearance for The Ammies since signing in August 2014, although his afternoon was ended early when he came off shortly before the hour mark as a precaution.
“He’s opened his knee out, he went in for a tackle he probably shouldn’t have gone in for to be honest, it was probably 70:30 best in the other lad’s favour, so a little bit precautionary,” Johnson explained.
“But he’s not missed one single [league] game for us, he’s probably the most consistent player we’ve ever had playing for us, typical captain, puts his body on the line, but a great lad as well, that’s one of the most important things with him,” he added.
“He gets his point over on the pitch how we do in the changing room, so an absolutely integral part of the football club, I’m pleased for him, his 100th appearance, and we’ve got to the play-offs.”
Salford City (4-3-1-2): J.Lynch, C.Lynch (c) (‘57 Gumbs tactical), O’Halloran, Stopforth, Howson, Priestley, Johnston, Burton (‘90+2 Clark tactical), Poole, Hulme and Webber (‘79 Allen fatigue).
Nantwich Town (4-4-2): Gyollai, Baillie, White, Moran, Harrison (‘46 Bailey tactical), Osborne (‘61 Kosylo tactical), Cooke, Hall (c), Shotton, Bell (‘75 C. Jones major injury) and Hancock.
Main image: Charlotte Tattersall/@SalfordFCPhotos
Additional reporting by @willtm10
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