UK Edition
Salford promoted to League Two after overcoming AFC Fylde
Salford manager Graham Alexander admitted he could not relax even though his side earned promotion to the Football League.
Three goals against AFC Fylde earned the side back-to-back promotion into League Two, the first time it has been done.
Alexander returned to the Football League after leaving Scunthorpe for Salford, and felt relieved. He said “I’m just delighted for everyone involved. It doesn’t get any more special than promotion at Wembley. To take that step into the Football League is the most difficult one because there’s only one spot through the play-offs.
“It was relief at the whistle. I couldn’t relax – I couldn’t enjoy any of it but I will enjoy it tonight. When we first started the season the spotlight was on us. It can be a circus sometimes and we tried to be respectful of everyone at the level we’re at.”
A Salford team missing talisman Adam Rooney, who injured himself during the penalty shoot-out against Eastleigh in the semi-finals, had a chance in the ninth minute, but Scott Wiseman fired just wide from outside the area. Salford took the lead after 15 minutes, albeit with some degree of good fortune. A free-kick delivered low from Devonte Redmond was cleared but ricocheted off the unlucky Luke Burke. With the ball back into the area, Mani Dieseruvwe was able to pounce to slide his effort past Jay Lynch.
After their setback, Fylde started to get more of a foothold in the contest. Their best effort of the first half fell to Andy Bond, who fired over the bar after 32 minutes after a one-two with Nick Haughton. Dieseruvwe put a header just wide from a Wiseman cross three minutes after the restart.
The lead was doubled after 52 minutes when Carl Piergianni was on the scoresheet again when he directed a Redmond cross past Lynch.
Promotion to the Football League looked assured just after the hour. Ibou Touray showed his pace down the left and delivered a cross-come-shot that came off the far post and into the net.
Fylde manager Dave Challinor, who suffered Wembley defeat with Tranmere in the 2000 League Cup final, called on his side to use the experience as motivation for the following season.
He said “You always look back and think what if this, or what if that. Ultimately today, we’ve not been good enough, and we’ve spoken about that.
“As disappointing as it is, you have to use that in two ways: either feel sorry for yourselves or use it as motivation.”