After the home team missed a few early opportunities, the striker opened the score just after the half hour with a clean finish from the top of the box.
But County leveled the score in the second half through a forceful strike from Dan Crowley after the ball entered from the right.
Salford had to withstand some early pressure, but when a substitute made some changes, the visitors were more at ease. In the final ten minutes, McAleny scored the game-winning goal after being passed in at the top of the box.
Salford has now won two straight games, and both the players and the coach, Alex Bruce, were happy with the outcome.
“Everyone is excited to be here; it’s one of the best places in the league to play, with a nice surface that I think really helped the boys and a really good three points, so they’re all very happy.”
“[Conor] shown good energy, really adhered to the game plan to sit in and around their deep-lying midfield man, and had the quality we required when he landed on the ball for his two goals in particular.
“It was a good performance overall and a really good three points. I was also pleased with the substitutes, who came on and made an impact when needed. They could have easily gained momentum after they scored the goal, but I thought we handled that well and the subs had a real impact in that.”
Three players were added to the team that defeated Morecambe handily last weekend: Matt Smith, Conor McAleny, and Luke Garbutt were all reinstated to the starting lineup.
There wasn’t much separating the sides in the opening minutes on a very windy and tense afternoon at Meadow Lane until Jodi Jones cut in off the right and sent a low shot toward the near post that Alex Cairns saved. In response, Salford’s Smith headed a switch from Ryan Watson into the direction of McAleny, who nipped a pass into the path of Callum Hendry, who turned deftly and missed the target.
The hosts, who had lost their previous four games at home heading into the afternoon, subsequently experienced a brief period of possession. Initially, Jones appeared the most energetic player, heading over a free-kick that was crossed by Jaden Warner. Then, he resumed his shooting responsibilities and missed low.
But Salford seized the lead shortly after the half-hour mark, and they were soon made to pay for those wasted chances. While Smith has frequently found himself on the receiving end of opportunities, this one was set up by the forward’s fierce challenge in the midst of the County half-won possession, which McAleny scooped up and took to the top of the box before launching a shot.
Before the half ended, Smith had an opportunity of his own, but he headed Garbutt’s left-over free kick at the back post.
The Magpies took command of the game in the second half and leveled the score after six minutes. Dan Crowley was waiting just inside the area when a cross from the right rebounded into his path. Crowley turned and hammered a shot past Cairns.
Despite the setback, Salford bounced back and had a chance to take the lead in the 59th minute when Dan Chesters did a great job moving forward on the right and crossing for McAleny to half-volley, but Sam Slocombe was able to save it. However, County almost shot themselves in the foot as they handed up cheap possession to Elliot Watt, who saw that Slocombe was off his line. The skipper misjudged the chance and chipped wide.
After being largely silent throughout the day, Macauley Langstaff suddenly appeared on the right in the 66th minute; nevertheless, Cairns stopped a shot that came from a tight angle and the subsequent corners.
After Smith headed the ball to McAleny at the top of the box with fifteen minutes remaining, he had another fantastic opportunity, but referee Adam Herczeg decided that McAleny had handled the pass that looked to come off his knee, leaving the open goal at his mercy unaffected.
The Ammies were unfazed and kept pressuring County into making mistakes. They took advantage of these openings and sealed the victory in the 87th minute. This time, Callum Morton—who appeared animated following his bench debut—slipped the pass through, which McAleny skillfully finished off to take the lead back.
After Smith headed the ball to McAleny at the top of the box with fifteen minutes remaining, he had another fantastic opportunity, but referee Adam Herczeg decided that McAleny had handled the pass that looked to come off his knee, leaving the open goal at his mercy unaffected.
The Ammies were unfazed and kept pressuring County into making mistakes. They took advantage of these openings and sealed the victory in the 87th minute. This time, Callum Morton—who appeared animated following his bench debut—slipped the pass through, which McAleny skillfully finished off to take the lead back.
A fantastic stop by Slocombe denied Smith a goal, and Morton had an opportunity of his own from the right that Kyle Cameron managed to turn onto the post. Langstaff played into the middle during a scary moment in the last minute, but Cairns sensed the danger and did enough to deny the forward the opportunity and finish the game.
