FT: Stevenage 1-3 Salford City: Steve Evans Boro suffer League Two promotion chasing blow

Goals from Stevie Mallan, Callum Hendry and Matt Smith ensured visitors Salford dealt a blow to Stevenage's automatic promotion hopes, with a 3-1 victory, who replied with a Luke Norris consolation.

Mallan and Hendry put the Ammies 2-0 ahead after 80 minutes and, although Norris pulled a goal back on 90 minutes, Smith sealed a vital victory for head coach Neil Wood's side in front of 3,749 supporters including 120 from the north west.

The triumph saw Salford ease to sixth, five points behind third-placed Stevenage, who had dropped out of the automatic promotion places prior to Gillingham's late winner against Carlisle, that would have seen Boro slip out of the top three for the first time since September 24, 2022.

The opening 45 minutes saw plenty of perspiration if not inspirational, bar keeper Alex Cairns producing an excellent save from Dan Sweeney's header to keep the scores level moments before the break.

However, Wood's side came out determined to pick up vital points in their own bid for promotion - and opened the scoring in the 65th minute as Mallan side-footed home in acres of space after Elliot Watt's well-worked free-kick on the edge of the area.

Hendry doubled the lead for 2-0 ran in unopposed to slot home past Jon McCracken with 10 minutes left.

Norris pulled a goal back in the last minute by firing into the corner. With referee Darren Drysdale signalling 12 additional minutes following a head injury to Stevenage keeper Cracken.

Yet, from kick-off, Salford went up the other end and restored their two-goal lead through Smith as he found the bottom corner to seal victory.