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A clinical Salford City opened up a six point gap at the top of the Evo Stik First Division North after coming from behind to win 3-1 at Scarborough Athletic.
A second from Seddon in the second half made it 3-1, and sealed the points despite a late period of pressure from Scarborough in which substitute Ryan Blott went close twice.
As well as opening up the gap at the top, the result also marks the end of a run of four away fixtures, from which The Ammies have claimed the maximum 12 points to put them in a strong position with the end of the season looming.
It wasn’t such a positive start to the afternoon though as Scarborough took an early lead through Metcalfe.
The striker found himself in space at the edge of the box, and after his initial shot was blocked the ball fell back to him, and he found the space to fire the follow up into the top corner, beyond the reach of Jay Lynch.
A sense of frustration seemed to be hampering Salford’s attempts at settling into the match, and the windy conditions did little to help them clear their lines, or their heads.
Metcalfe had another opportunity from a free kick, which he placed high and wide, and another chance went begging when another free kick was cleared out to him, but again his shot dipped over the bar.
Salford finally forged a chance about just shy of 20 minutes when Seddon saw a shot saved by Joe Cracknell at his near post, but there wasn’t much the keeper could do a couple of minutes later.
The move started up the other end as Jay Lynch did well to deny Tom Corner, and in typical route one fashion the ball found it’s way up to Seddon, and after being afforded space on the edge of the area he slotted in at the far post.
It was a tough lesson for the hosts about closing down their opponents, but one they didn’t learn until after Stopforth had put them behind.
As Salford broke away, Danny Webber did well to pull defenders out to him before slipping the ball to Stopforth who simply had to pick his place – which happened to be the same as Seddon’s – to score his first for Salford since joining from Ramsbottom.
Seddon could have finished with a hat-trick had an effort 10 minutes before halt time not been ruled out for offside, but it could also have been 2-2 minutes after as Metcalfe had an effort cleared off the line.
A relatively uneventful second half was a good lesson in defence for Salford though, and luckily Seddon had already made it 3-1.
A cross from Dom Smalley to the back post found Seddon waiting, and his header left Cracknell in a mess, and his fumbled save eventually bounced over the line, although credit must got to the linesman who anticipated a close call and waited before signalling to the referee that the ball had crossed.
Jason Jarrett – replaced by the returning Scott Burton – came on to try and sure up the midfield, although if anything Scarborough continued to put their visitors under pressure.
Substitute Blott created the best chances, first from a free kick that whistled narrowly wide of the post, before miscuing another chance.
But Salford kept their shape and discipline to return to Moor Lane finally in a great run of form.
Scarborough Athletic: Cracknell, Wilkinson, Robson, Middleton, Lisles, McCaffrey (Blott ’65), Clayton (Davidson ’65), Beadle (Murray ’78), Corner, Bradshaw, Metcalfe.
Booked: Corner, Lisles, McCaffrey.
Salford City: J Lynch, C Lynch (c), Linwood, Howson, Dean, Smalley (Spencer ’78), Stopforth, Burton, Webber (Jarrett ’72), Hulme (Chadwick ’46), Seddon.
Booked: Howson, C Lynch
Referee: R Atkin
Attendance: 571
