Salford striker Rio Ahmadi had a field day at Moor Lane on Saturday scoring four of the Ammies six goals against a Mossley defence who simply had no answer to him and strike partner Richard Battersby who chipped in with the other two Salford goals.

Apart from the clinical precision of the ex Droylsden forward Ahmadi, there was little else to separate the sides for much of what was an open end to end game. But the Mossley bosses have to ask questions of a defence and midfield who made it all to easy for the home sides strikers to reap havoc on the beleaguered Lilywhites rearguard.

Salford were first on the attack and Mossley keeper Chris Thewlis saved well from Gaskin’s effort in only the second minute and three minutes later the home side took the lead. Tandy pulling the ball back from the left wing to the unmarked Ahmadi who struck home from 12 yards.

Mossley responded against a Salford rearguard that clearly had problems of it’s own and the home side survived when home keeper Fradd punched the ball against his own bar before the ball was scrambled clear.

Having upped their game Mossley drew level on 22 minutes. Tom Pratt broke down the left and played the ball through to Richard Bennett who took the ball around Fradd before squaring for Wayne Welbeck to tap home from close range.
Pratt again raced through moments later but Fradd won the 50-50 on the edge of the Salford box and was able to clear.

Ahmadi restored Salford’s lead on 32 minutes when he fired in off Thewlis’ left hand post after a flicked header had left him with a clear sight of goal and worse was to follow when the unmarked Battersby rifled home a great strike from 20 yards that gave Thewlis no chance.

However, Mossley were still an attacking threat and Bennett had an effort cleared off the line before Mossley reduced the arrears on the stroke of half time. Pratt fired goalwards from the edge of the box, Fradd failed to hold his effort and Bennett followed up to fire into the roof of the net to give the Lilywhites renewed hope.

The first goal of the second half was always going to be decisive and unfortunately for Mossley it went Salford’s way as Ahmadi completed his hat-trick eleven minutes in as the Mossley defence went awol leaving the Salford hot-shot an easy finish.

Welbeck raced through for Mossley minutes later but his shot went high and wide and he was injured in the process and took no further part.

Salford then added a fifth goal and Ahmadi’s fourth as he headed home Purcell’s cross to make the score 5-2 before
Mossley substitute Brandon Windsor had a header cleared off the line but Salford made it six when Battersby scored following a left wing break.

Windsor had another opportunity in the last minute but fired wide when it looked easier to score to ensure Mossley’s heaviest League defeat since August 2010.

Report by Wizard