Salford City 2-1 Carlisle United

Matt Smith headed home his first Salford goal to clinch victory in an entertaining 2-1 League Two home win over Carlisle.

All the goals came after the break as Carlisle came from behind before being denied by the giant striker’s glancing header.

The hosts should have led inside the first minute when Smith drilled a sitter into the ground and over the crossbar.

Carlisle came close within the opening 15 minutes when Lewis Alessandra pulled the ball back for Omari Patrick, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Jordan Turnbull.

The visitors suffered three injuries in the first half with Rod McDonald, Joel Senior and Captain Callum Gay all making way.

The breakthrough came seven minutes after the break when Jon Mellish handled in the area, allowing Ryan Watson his first Salford goal from their first penalty of the season.

But Carlisle responded and got their reward when Patrick tapped the ball home midway through the second half.

That ignited Salford though and Smith headed in a fine winner from Liam Shephard’s cross.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

line ups

Salford

formation 4-4-2

1King

4Lion5Eastham16Turnbull6Ndaba

32shepherd17Kelly7watson10Hunter

19Smith37Thomas Asante

• 1King
• 4Lion
• 5Eastham
• 16Turnbull
• 6Ndaba
• 32shepherd
• 17KellySubstituted forLundat 90′minutes
• 7watson
• 10HunterSubstituted forLoughlanat 90+3′minutes
• 19Smith
• 37Thomas AsanteSubstituted forMcAlenyat 86′minutes

substitutes

• 8thLund
• 18McAleny
• 22Golden
• 31torrance
• 33Loughlan
• 42Vasell

Carlisle

formation 4-4-2

33Howard

32Senior6Simeu5MC Donald3poor

27Gibson8thdude12Mellish11dickenson

9Alessandra30Patrick

• 33Howard
• 32SeniorSubstituted forwhelanat 30′minutes
• 6Simeu
• 5MC DonaldSubstituted forFeeneyat 10′minutesBooked at 62mins
• 3poor
• 27Gibson
• 8thdudeSubstituted forRileyat 45+1′minutesBooked at 82mins
• 12Mellish
• 11dickenson
• 9Alessandra
• 30Patrick

substitutes

• 1Norman
• 7Riley
• 16Feeney
• 17whelan
• 25Fishburn
• 28Roberts
• 29Omotoye

Referee: Simon Mather

Attendance: 2,059

live text

1. Match ends, Salford City 2, Carlisle United 1.

2. Second half ends, Salford City 2, Carlisle United 1.

3. Substitution, Salford City. Liam Loughlan replaces Ashley Hunter.

4. Substitution, Salford City. Matthew Lund replaces Stephen Kelly.

5. Foul by Jordan Turnbull (Salford City).

6. Lewis Alessandra (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

7. Attempt missed. Ryan Watson (Salford City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Conor McAleny.

8. Foul by Jordan Turnbull (Salford City).

9. Lewis Alessandra (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

10. Substitution, Salford City. Conor McAleny replaces Brandon Thomas-Asante.

11. Attempt missed. Corrie Ndaba (Salford City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.

12. Stephen Kelly (Salford City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

13. Foul by Brennan Dickenson (Carlisle United).

14. Joe Riley (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

15. Stephen Kelly (Salford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. Foul by Joe Riley (Carlisle United).

17. Foul by Jordan Turnbull (Salford City).

18. Jon Mellish (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19. Hand ball by Brandon Thomas Asante (Salford City).

20. Handball by Lewis Alessandra (Carlisle United).