From the Archive | The Start of a Memorable Cup Run

Salford City’s rise into the Football League has been one of the success stories of the last decade.

However, before the arrival of the class of 92 in the boardroom, the club had spent all of its existence in non-league, meaning we had never faced them in a competitive encounter.

This all changed in 2018 when we were drawn against the Ammies in the first round of the FA Cup. After winning three of our opening 17 league games and finding ourselves near the foot of the League One table, we welcomed the then National League side to the Croud Meadow.  

It was a cagey encounter, with Ollie Norburn’s opener being quickly cancelled out by Adam Rooney, and the game ended 1-1. This meant we would have to travel to the Peninsula Stadium for the first time in our history to battle for a spot in the second round.  

However, there would be a huge change between the two ties, with manager John Askey leaving the club just 24 hours after the first match. Goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne would be the man in temporary charge and manage the team for the replay.  

We would get off to a strong start in Greater Manchester, with Ollie Norburn being denied early by former Salop stopper Chris Neal. Neal would then pull off another acrobatic save minutes later to deny Fejiri Okenabirhie.  

Our dominance would finally pay off in the 33rd minute. Luke Waterfall met a Norburn corner at the back post, with his header ricocheting back off the upright, allowing Okenabirhie to tap home from close range.  

Josh Laurent nearly added a spectacular second minutes later, smashing an effort from 18 yards off the inside of the post.  

Greg Docherty would then produce a moment of magic just after the hour mark. The midfielder cut inside from the left, danced around two Salford defenders and rifled the ball into the roof of the net at Neal’s near-post.  

Against the run of play, the hosts found a way back into the game in the 78th minute. Danny Whitehead delivered a dangerous long ball into the box, which was met by an in-form Adam Rooney, who flicked a delightful header past the outstretched arms of Steve Arnold.  

The Ammies’ best chance of an equaliser would fall to Ibou Touray in the 88th minute, with the left-back firing a volley into the side of the net from just outside the six-yard box.  

Salop would book their place in the second round in the last minute of the game. Josh Laurent dispossessed Nathan Pond on the edge of the area before forcing another great save from Neal. Unfortunately for the keeper, he could do nothing to stop Okenabirhie from smashing the ball into an empty net in front of the travelling Town fans to make it 3-1.  

This win would be the start of a fantastic FA Cup run that would see us reach the fourth round, where we would take Wolves to a replay before narrowly losing to the Premier League side 3-2 at the Molineux.