Matt Smith’s brace set Salford on their way to a third consecutive win as they beat Crewe Alexandra 4-2 at The Peninsula Stadium. The visitors took the lead midway through the half when Courtney Baker-Richardson’s flicked header beat Alex Cairns, but Smith levelled things up with a header in first half stoppage time. Smith then put Salford ahead after the hour mark as Salford countered with Crewe complaining about a disallowed goal at the other end, tapping in from close range. Substitute Ryan Watson made it 3-1 with a deflected strike, and Curtis Tilt made it four with a header from a corner that looked to have crossed the line before Kevin Berkoe made sure; the centre-back pulling rank with claiming it. In 10 minutes of added time Crewe pulled one back, Baker-Richardson finishing across Cairns after being setup by Elliot Nevitt, but Salford held on for a resounding victory. Nine points from the last nine available have stirred a resurgence for Salford, and Neil Wood was pleased with the way his side approached the game. “I think the performances have been getting better, Newport was a good one here to stop the rot of losing games. Sutton in the week I thought we were outstanding, similar to today I thought first half we were excellent, we didn’t deserve to be 1-0 down. “Tactically we were brilliant in the first half, exactly how we wanted to play, we planned it, and probably disappointed we didn’t score more to be honest. We had chances to go forward and get into the box a bit quicker, but we’re pleased with three wins on the bounce. “I thought Matt was a real handful today and that’s what he gives us, he gives us the opportunity to change the way we play a little bit. “He gets on the end of things but we still think he could get on the end of more, we still think he can get across defenders, arrive in the frame of the goal, but he’s a massive threat for us, especially when he’s in the form that he’s in today. He helps us a lot, he’s got good experience and you want your striker scoring goals.” Both sides took their time to settle into the game, Baker-Richardson and Rio Adebisi firing early chances over before Smith headed a Stevie Mallan free-kick wide across the face of goal. Shilow Tracey had a similar effort for the visitors that Matus Holicek couldn’t connect with at the back post, before Zac Williams fired an effort wide across goal. For all the good play and build up Salford hadn’t tested Harvey Davies much, and after being caught in possession in the middle Crewe took the lead. Baker-Richardson slid a pass to Adebisi on the right to advance and return a cross into the middle that Baker-Richardson headed beyond Cairns’ reach into the far post. Salford responded well, and in stoppage time in the first half pulled level. Elliot Watt floated in a free kick from halfway to the back post that Smith rose to head up and over Davies, into the far post. Based on the performance levels in the first half it was the least Salford deserved, and in the second half the hosts kicked on. Mallan scored at The Mornflake Stadium in March and came close to putting Salford ahead a couple of minutes into the second half, but he bent a shot wide of the far post. 10 minutes later though the game truly stirred into life. Moving forward well, Tracey slipped a pass right for Holicek who was closed down by Cairns. Rather than shoot, he unselfishly nudged a pass left for the arriving Baker-Richardson who tucked his shot into the far post and wheeled away to celebrate. However the offside flag had been raised, and with Crewe still celebrating Salford played on… Countering with four on two, Matthew Lund played a decent reverse pass forward to Luke Bolton, who cut it back where Smith got the decisive touch to put Salford ahead. Birthday boy Bolton could have scored himself in the 65th minute, cutting in off the right before firing wide across goal, but minutes later Watson did make it 3-1 with a shot from the top of the box that deflected beyond Davies. Mallan came close again a minute later with an improvised volley at the top of the area, but that landed on the roof of the net. Smith could have completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes to go, turning well at the top of the box after a pass from Dec John before unleashing a rising drive that Davies did well to save. Crewe responded through Joe White, but his rising shot bounced up off the crossbar. In stoppage time the points were sealed, Tilt rising to head in Mallan’s corner off the underside of the bar. Berkoe reacted quickest to the ball as it bounced out to make certain it went in, but the linesman had already flagged it as a goal. There was still time for Baker-Richardson to pull one back, but it only added to his personal tally as The Ammies move up to 13th.
