A return to league action for the first time in 22 games due to cup exploits and it was as they’d never been away. It was the clubs first game since the AGM where a new chairman was appointed, James Rogers watching on and happy to start his reign with three points.

Craig Elliott made changes to his starting XI, Jason Mycoe and Shaun Connor coming in to make their debuts and Kyle Hawethorne made his first league start. Straight from kick-off Salford attacked and could count themselves unlucky not to take the lead after a matter of seconds, last ditch block earning them a corner.

Mycoe looked to show his attacking side as early as the sixth minute, a driving run down the right and excellent cross wining a corner. Luke Sharry sending the ball over and following a ricochet Ryan Qualter was on hand to force the ball home.

Salford looked short on confidence and that sloppy goal hit them further, minutes later confusion in their defence almost gave away a second goal.

Luke Sharry was at the centre of everything that was good for the visitors, his link up play with Eyles and Hawthorne was excellent. When Salford did attack Qualter and Connor were rocks at the heart of Town’s defence as the side launched fast counter attacks.

Hawthorne having an excellent one on one chance saved well, whilst Eyles twice went close. One dipping 20 yard volley cleared the bar by inches, before he went even closer with a curling effort that struck the post.

Town, though, were punished for not adding to the total when dominating the game, Salford with a shots from distance saved comfortably by Tom Taylor before getting a equaliser on 39minutes from Daniel Browne, finishing from a tight angle following a deep right wing cross.

Salford grew with confidence and looked to take the lead before half time, but again Taylor was equal to their efforts, there was still time for Town to have a couple of half chances before the half time whistle blew, the home side will have been delighted to have still been in the game.

Salford had the first chances of the second half ten minutes in, an in swinging corner tipped over the bar before the resulting corner having a shot blocked.

Two minutes later Town took the lead, again from a corner, this time Steven Jeff swung one over which was met by a towering Conner header for a debut goal, the second of the day from a Town centre back.

Both sides made changes as the half wore on, Eyles unlucky again not to get on the score sheet, and at the other end of the pitch and excellent Taylor stop kept Town in front.

As five minutes of time added on began Jeff cleared one corner before the Salford keeper came forward for the next one, there was a couple of desperate calls for a penalty as Salford through everything at the Town goal, but the defence, protected by Andrew Fox and Richard Patterson held strong as Town collected the three points to rise to nine in the league, with a number of games in hand on the sides above.

Salford City 1. Kieran O’Boyle, 2. Mike Aston, 3. Josh Waldeis, 4. Aaron Swift, 5. Otis Gorman, 6. Aaron Walter, 7. Lee Hodgkinson (c), 8. Danny Browne, 9. Nathan Bond, 10. Gary Prescott, 11. Nelson Mota. Subs: 12. Joshua Messer, 14. Eder Ruiz, 15. Kyle Collins, 16. Jack Fitzgerald, 17. Michael Gill.

Ossett Town 1. Tom Taylor, 2. Jason Mycoe, 3. Steven Jeff, 4. Richard Patterson, 5. Ryan Qualter (c), 6. Shaun Connor, 7. Andrew Fox, 8. Luke Sharry, 9. Chris Wood (12. Gareth Grant), 10. Jimmy Eyles (15. Nick Wood), 11. Kyle Hawthorne (14. Chris Fisher).

Goals

Salford City
39 Daniel Browne

Ossett Town
6 Ryan Qualter
57 Shaun Connor

Captain Ryan Qualter opened the scoring.