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Salford City 0 FC Halifax Town 1: Stott ends week on a high
ASHLEY Stott ended a week of speculation about his Town future by bagging his 17th goal of the season to send the Shaymen six points clear at the top of Unibond One North.
Manager Jim Vince announced on Friday that, despite interest from the striker's former club Bangor City, Stott was going nowhere.
And he responded with his best performance for some time and only his second goal in the last 10 games.
In keeping with the game, which Town struggled to get a foothold in, it was a scrappy strike, but Stott will not have minded that one bit.
Salford looked anything but the league's whipping boys which they have been for much of the season.
And there was never any danger of a repeat of the seven goal thrashing they suffered at the Shay earlier in the campaign.
In fact, they could have claimed a share of the spoils had they capitalised on the possession they were allowed in the final quarter.
They were permitted to push Halifax, still far from convincing, back as the Shaymen retreated to the edge of their own area and Town were indebted to the woodwork and stand in keeper Craig Ellison, who answered an SOS call from Vince with regular number one Jon kennedy suffering from an eye problem.
Salford gave the Shaymen an early scare when Jamie Tandy was allowed to run from halfway to the edge of the area before sending a shot flashing over the bar.
Town responded with a Damien Allen corner that was headed wide by Lincoln Adams and a Michael Barnes run where he showed his blistering pace on the right only for his touch to let him down.
John Robinson was allowed the freedom of the Town area in the 14th minute as defenders stood and watched him with the ball, but he was unable to get his shot away.
Town enjoyed a decent spell with Junior Brown at the centre of all things good.
He released both Paul Gedman and Ashley Stott down the left, but neither was able to deliver the cross to unlock the home defence.
And when Brown crossed low from the right, after latching onto a Stott pass, home keeper Matthew Convey did well at Barnes's feet.
Stott was denied by a defender after Barnes and Gedman had combined well on the right before Salford had their best chance of the half, Robinson twice being denied by defensive blocks 10 yards from goal.
The Shaymen almost broke the deadlock six minutes before the break after Barnes had sent Cavell Coo racing away down the left.
The defender's cross was dangerous and met on the volley by Brown, but he could not keep the ball down and it flew over the bar.
Town opened the second half far more brightly than they had the first with Gedman forcing a save from Convey after being played through by Brown while Stott worked an opening on the left only to loop a shot into the keeper's arms.
And the breakthrough finally arrived just seven minutes into the second period from a long punt downfield.
Salford had a defender and keeper Convey closing in on the ball, but both hesitated and that allowed Stott to nip in, get his head to the ball on the edge of the area and send it rolling into the net.
Tom Baker fired over soon after and Stott might have had a penalty when both Liam Foster and Convey appeared to make contact with him on a run down the left. The referee was unmoved.
Having the upper hand, the Shaymen started to sit deeper inside their own half.
That gave the home side plenty of possession, but they failed to make much of it with Steve Tobin firing straight at Ellison in the 66th minute as close as they came initially.
Town were restricted to breakaways with Gedman shooting at the keeper and Baker firing over before having a later effort blocked by Mike Flynn.
As time ticked away, Salford threw more and more men forward and Robinson managed to get the ball past Ellison in the 75th minute only to see his effort bounce wide.
Tony Barras pulled off a remarkable volleyed clearance three minutes later to deny the home side and Ellison saved again from Robinson who tried his luck from the edge of the area.
Then, with two minutes remaining, substitute Steve Moore found himself in open space inside the area to the right of goal.
His shot was well struck and beat Ellison, but the ball rebounded back off the post. Town cleared and held on top claim the points.
MATCH FACTS
Salford City: Convery, Foster, Baylis, Ayres, Flynn, Andrews, Tobin (Moore 63), Ahern (Kelly 53), Robinson, Ellis (Forrester 46), Tandy. Subs (not used): Beeley.
Booked: Tobin (foul 57), Ayres (foul 76), Kelly (foul 80).
Sent-off: None
Goals: None
FC Halifax Town: Ellison, Coo, Adams, Barras, Sutton, Allen, Brown, Baker, Barnes (Hinsley 67), Stott, Gedman (Ross 77). Subs (not used): Meadowcroft, Payne, Senior.
Booked: Baker (foul 53)
Sent-off: None
Goal: Stott 52
Attendance: 520
Referee: N S Davies
STAR SHAYMAN
Much has been said about Ashley Stott in the past few weeks, not all of it complimentary.
And he clearly knew he had to take his latest chance in attack after three successive appearances from the bench.
He responded in style with the only goal of the game and a much improved all round performance.
He was a willing runner and kept the Salford City defence on its toes throughout, even when Town were increasingly restricted to hitting them on the break.
That was when stand-in keeper Craig Ellison came to the fore.
With Jon Kennedy ruled out with an eye infection and non contract Phil Senior still not ready to play, manager Jim Vince gave Ellison a shout.
And despite not having much football under his belt he looked confident and assured on his way to a clean sheet.
Cavell Coo also did well for the Shaymen, working both flanks at various times in the game and putting both of the City full backs under pressure.
Stott takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Ellison two and Coo one.
PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 29, Tom Baker 25, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Ashley Stott 13, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Nigel Jemson 9, Cavell Coo 7, Lincoln Adams 6, Damien Allen 5, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Steve Payne 3, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Luke Hinsley 2, Craig Ellison 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.
YOU SAY
i think jim vince has been receiving tactical advice from chris wilder. Take the lead then retreat against a poor team - john and audrey
An awful game but 3 welcome points. We need vince and jemson singing off the same hymn sheet and rumours suggest a huge split which needs SORTING NOW - Town fan.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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