A LATE STRIKE FROM LIAM HUMBLES EARNS A POINT IN A 2-2 DRAW WITH SWINDON TOWN

Salford City FC went ahead in the first half through Ethan Ingram, but were pegged back a few minutes later when Remeao Hutton drilled a low shot in from the edge of the area.

Controversy in the final 10 minutes saw Curtis Tilt sent off for what looked like a rather innocent coming together with Rushian Hepburn-Murphy in the area, and Charlie Austin dispatched the resulting penalty in front of the travelling supporters.

However in the fifth minute of stoppage time substitute Humbles slammed in a shot from a tight angle on the right, salvaging a late point.

"Liam's developing quite well, he’s had a few minutes now in the first team, he’s played some EFL Trophy games, and it’s just about building up his minutes and building up his experience," said Neil Wood.

"We felt because we’ve got a game on Tuesday we just needed to change a little bit with the substitution, he brought some energy, and I’m really pleased for him.

"He’s been training well, a nice footballer, technically a good footballer, and these lessons will be really good for him going forward. I’m sure he’ll be really happy, it’s a well-taken goal, and we’re all very pleased for him."

The Ammies made a good start as Swindon took their time to settle, and Ingram got into the area before dragging a shot wide of the far post. Five minutes late though he snatched the opening goal in a similar manner. Luke Bolton nudged a pass forward on the right that Ingram took in his stride and kept moving into the area, this time slotting his shot into the far post to put Salford in front.

Swindon continued to be found exposed at the back as Salford put the pressure on the visitors, but they levelled things up in the 11th minute when Dan Kemp played a pass to the top of the box from a corner, picking out the arriving Hutton to guide a low shot in through a group of players.

Matt Smith almost responded immediately at the other end, taking on a shot from just inside the box after good play by Bolton and Matthew Lund on the right, but Murphy Mahoney saved the effort. On the half hour mark he had another presentable opportunity, getting up unmarked at the back post to meet Bolton’s cross, but that went straight at Mahoney.

The Robins finished the half the stronger side with a succession of corners, but couldn’t get themselves in front despite Tyrese Shade’s best effort that Alex Cairns saved low near to the post.

In the second half Salford made a good start again with Bolton being played in behind by Watt and seeing his shot saved, before a long distance Stevie Mallan effort was tipped over the bar. From the resulting corner Smith headed the delivery back into the middle where Ryan Watson glanced it onto the roof of the net.

Immediately at the other end Cairns saved a header from Tyrese Shade, after Ingram had done well to put off Austin and force the ball out. The Town captain then had a low shot saved after Adrian Mariappa had blocked an effort from Hepburn-Murphy, who had another go a few minutes later but was again denied by a fingertip Cairns save before Ingram cleared up.

Then in the final 10 minutes Swindon were awarded a penalty that gave them chance to take the lead for the first time in the game. A turnover of possession on the Salford left saw the ball head back towards Cairns’ goal, which Hepburn-Murphy and Tilt both chased. The ball bounced up into Cairns’ grasp as Hepburn-Murphy and Tilt came together, with referee Lewis Smith seeing fit to award a penalty to the visitors and show Tilt a red card. Cairns came close to saving Austin’s effort, but the striker’s shot had enough power to beat the ‘keeper at his right-hand post.

Salford seized the initiative though, feeling the injustice of the decisions against them, and deep into stoppage time found the deserved equaliser. Mallan fed a ball into the area that Frazer Blake-Tracy cleared to Humbles at an angle on the right, the 19-year-old taking a touch before slamming in the equaliser in front of the West Stand, his first professional goal.

Wood added: 

"We’ll always fight until the end, it’s part of what is required to play for this club and to play for me, so that’s what I expect from players. At the moment we have to stop goals from going in, we conceded a poor goal from a corner, we conceded the penalty, but they're really soft goals to concede, teams are not having to break us down and that’s the disappointing thing about being 2-1 down, it’s to a penalty. It's great character from the lads, good determination, good desire, but just the way we got on the ball and played, for me how we should be playing, in the last 10-15 minutes is most important."

Photo: Salford City FC