Magnificent seven for Lairds as they pip Salford City (From Wirral Globe)

Magnificent seven for Lairds as they pip Salford City

2:04pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Sport

CAMMELL Laird made it seven wins in a row on Saturday following a frantic final 20 minutes at Kirklands that saw Laird on the right side of a five-goal thriller, writes Phillip Wilkinson.

The win has left the Cammells sitting in seventh place in the table, just one point off Farsley in 5th (final play-off position) and with the advantage of having four games in hand over the West Yorkshire outfit.

Laird had the better of the opening exchanges, moving the ball well and creating one or two decent opportunities but looked like they would go in at the break all square.

That was until the final knockings of the first half, when Joe Gibiluru found Danny O'Brien with a stunning pass that split the Salford City defence wide open, and full back Danny White felled the Laird's man and a spot kick was awarded.

Jamie Henders stepped up and netted his 19th goal of the campaign and the Cammell's went in at the interval one goal to the good.

The second half was a completely different affair and the action was sparked into life with dramatic effect after the hour mark when the Cammell's creative midfielder, Joe Evans, saw red from the referee after he deemed Evans' challenge on the Salford man was reckless.

From that, the old theory that ten men are harder to break down than 11 was was disproved as Salford quickly took control with their numerical advantage.

Just five minutes after the dismissal of Evans, Salford were level - a powerful run by City winger Osebi Abadake saw his powerful right-foot drive saved by Laird's stopper Kevin Atherton however the rebound fell to the Salford forward Danny Hefferman who slotted home from close range for 1-1.

From there it looked likely that Salford would go on to win the game, but such is the fight and determination within this Cammell Laird side, they started to apply pressure.

On 81 minutes, Joe Holt received the ball some 30 yards from goal and drove at the City defence before unleashing a left-foot shot from just inside the 18 yard box which rammed into the bottom right hand corner to give Laird’s the lead again.

With just five minutes to play, the pendulum swung Salford's way again and it was the away side who were now dominating the ball and putting the Laird defence to the sword; Nathan McDonald delivered a ball into the box and following a deflection, fell in to the path of Danny Hefferman who could hardly miss with from just seven yards out to level the game for the second time.

But there was still time for one last goal for the valiant ten men of Cammell Laird. With just a minute of normal time remaining, Joe Gibiliru received the ball midway inside the Salford half and drove forward at the back four.

The Laird’s midfielder delivered a cross which Danny O'Brien, arriving late in the six-yard box, nodded home from just under the cross bar to send the Kirkland's fans crazy.