Salford City football Club

Salford City's 2020 pre-season campaign got underway on a steaming hot evening at The Peninsula Stadium, with League One newcomers Crewe Alexandra recording a 4-1 victory. Ammies manager Graham Alexander fielded a different outfield 10 for each half and despite the scoreline, will have seen plenty to encourage him.

First Half XI
Nick Hayes - Alex Denny, Tom Clarke, Jordan Turnbull, Ibou Touray - Jason Lowe, Trialist, Richie Towell, Bruno Andrade - James Wilson, Ian Henderson.

The game got off to a brisk start, with Bruno Andrade and James Wilson having efforts on goal early on. At the other end a Daniel Powell cross from the right found Charlie Kirk's head, with only a great save from keeper Nick Hayes denying him the evening's opening goal.

It would be a brief respite however, and the Railwaymen went ahead just a couple of minutes later. Again Powell found space to advance into on the right and this time his low cross was pushed out by Salford keeper Hayes. Luck was against the Salford custodian as the loose ball fell nicely for OLIVER FINNEY to slam home from a central position 12 yards out.

This was Crewe's third pre-season game and they looked sharp at times, keeping possession efficiently and extend their advantage on 24 minutes. A neat build-up was finished off when a pass found CHRIS PORTER right of centre and inside the box. The experienced striker had time to place a low shot beyond Hayes' reach and inside the far post.

A much-needed drinks break followed that goal and the Ammies certainly seemed to have been refreshed. The hosts began to enjoy a bit more attacking possession and recorded their first goal of the new season 11 minutes before half-time. A good passing spell ended up with defender Tom Clarke popping up on the left and he made it to the line before dropping a cross into the danger area. IAN HENDERSON was in the right place at exactly the right time to turn a neat, low finish past Will Jaaskelainen.

Crewe finished the half back on the attack, but there would be no further goals before the half-time whistle went.

HALF-TIME: SALFORD CITY 1 CREWE ALEXANDRA 2

Second Half XI
Nick Hayes - Oscar Threlkeld, Ash Eastham, Trialist, Dan Jones - Luke Armstrong - Dan Gardner, Trialist, Ash Hunter - Brandon Thomas-Asante, Tom Elliott.

The visitors almost re-established their two goal advantage within a couple of minutes of the restart as Kirk's impressive effort came back off the crossbar. At the West Stand end Alex keeper Jaaskelainen had to drop smartly to keep out a low 20-yarder from Dan Jones.

Crewe produced another bit of quality in the 56th minute and this time were rewarded with their 3rd goal of the match. Kirk did well on the left and when his cross fell for POWELL, inside the box and right of centre, he hit a nicely controlled low shot across Hayes and inside the far upright.

Midway through the second half Jaaskelainen did well to keep out Jones' cross-shot and soon after that Ash Hunter was unlucky to see his 25-yard free-kick come back off the keeper's left-hand upright.

Crewe manager David Artell made a number of substitutions for the game's final quarter and one of them - Mikael Mandron - placed a shot straight at Hayes soon after coming on.

This had been an energy-sapping outing for the players, but Crewe were on the lookout for more goals. With nine minutes left Offrande Zanzale played in Travis Johnson whose angled shot went behind off the post.

Close for Alex, but they finished off a good performance with a 4th goal a few minutes from time. Owen Dale's pass was a good one, playing Mandron into the box on a left of centre run. This time the powerful forward made no mistake, drilling a low effort inside Hayes' right-hand post. The keeper got a touch on that one but was unable to keep the well-hit effort out.

A more than useful opening friendly for Salford, with the management team getting a chance to look at most of their squad, along with a couple of trialists. In testing conditions the Ammies did well overall, and there already signs that parts of the reconstructed team are are already starting to gel. An entertaining match that had goals, but unfortunately no supporters to appreciate them. The sooner that situation is remedied, the better. In the meantime, we look forward to another exciting Salford City season.