SALFORD City survived a late fightback to defeat York City 3-2 at the newly-named Peninsula Stadium on Saturday.
Salford captain Liam Hogan netted a brace either side of Jack Redshaw’s effort to put the home side 3-0 ahead.
Two long-range strikes in the last ten minutes from substitutes Louis Almond and Aidan Connolly set up a tense finale, though Salford held on for the three points.
The result means Salford City retain second place in the Vanarama National League North, with York dropping out of the play-off places into eighth.
The home side started the game the brightest, earning a succession of corners in the early exchanges, before Ibou Tourray found Richie Allen in the box, who forced a save out of York’s goalkeeper at the near post for the first meaningful effort of the game.
York came close to breaking the deadlock after quarter of an hour, when David Ferguson’s first-time cross from the left came back off the far post.
They continued in search of an opener and created another chance shortly after, with Jon Parkin setting up James Gray in the area, only for the Torquay loanee to fire over.
It was the Ammies who opened the scoring however, with left-back Tourray’s teasing free kick falling for Hogan to slot in from just outside the six-yard box after 22 minutes.
The hosts doubled their lead minutes later. Salford’s corner from the left came back out to Jack Redshaw, who played one-two with Anthony Dudley before placing a curling effort into the far corner.
The Minstermen rallied late in the half, and began to test Salford ‘keeper Max Crocombe, who flapped at a cross from a free-kick before tipping over a header from Gray.
Salford City began the second half immediately on the front foot, and could have increased their lead seconds after the restart if not for a vital interception from Josh Law, with Redshaw lurking for a tap-in.
Richie Allen would perhaps have felt he should have scored himself moments later. Redshaw picked him out with a pinpoint cross, only for the number 11 to head straight at away stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
It was not long before they got the third goal however, with Tourray providing another dangerous cross, this time from a corner, finding Salford skipper Hogan to tap in at the far post for his second of the game.
Visiting manager Martin Gray made a string of substitutions following the goal and his side began to grow into the game. A number of penalty appeals ensued, albeit turned down, with Salford appearing to take their foot off the gas.
York piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes, and came agonisingly close to getting a goal back, with the hosts failing to clear their lines from a corner before substitute Aidan Connolly fired against the post.
The away side got what appeared to be nothing more than a consolation goal in the 84th minute, when Connolly combined with fellow replacement Louis Almond, who struck a sweet half-volley from the edge of the area.
The closing stages were made very nervy for the home fans when Connolly fired in a fierce shot of his own in stoppage time, with Crocombe’s fingertips unable to prevent his effort going in off the crossbar.
The visitors were unable to find a dramatic equaliser however, with Salford holding on to secure their first home win of the Peninsula Stadium era.
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