Salford City extended their league unbeaten run to five games and climbed to seventh in the table with a convincing 4-1 derby win at Border Park on Saturday.
The visitors took an early lead in the 5th minute when Luke Molyneux’s cross from the right wing found the far corner, bypassing everyone in the penalty area and leaving goalkeeper Matt Hudson with no chance.
Salford’s second goal came in stunning fashion on 19 minutes. After Hudson cleared the ball, Kelly N’Mai steadied himself and fired a delicate lob from 30 yards past the stranded keeper to make it 2-0.
Oldham responded almost immediately. Calum Kavanagh reduced the deficit two minutes later with a low shot from the left of Salford goalkeeper Will Norris, giving the home side new hope and inspiring the crowd as the first half drew to a close.
The final moments of the opening 45 minutes took an unusual turn. Referee Isaac Sale had said there would be four minutes of stoppage time, but the whistle was blown after three minutes. Play was paused and when officials realized there was one minute left, teams were called back onto the field to complete the final minute of the half. The brief, unexpected interruption caused confusion among players and supporters and briefly overshadowed the early drama of the game.
The referee blew his whistle too early at half-time between Oldham vs Salford and the scene was chaotic 😱 pic.twitter.com/uVzNE9PiP2
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 26, 2026
At the start of the second half, Salford regained control of the situation. The visitors searched for a chance to score, and in the 57th minute Brendan Wiredu easily found his way past Hudson, restoring a two-goal cushion and easing the pressure on the visitors.
Oldham tried to get back into the game, finding gaps in Salford’s compact defence, but chances were clearly limited. As the game drew to a close, substitute Adebola Oluwo sealed the victory with a powerful header from Luke Garbutt’s free kick in the 81st minute, turning a worrying moment for the visitors into an easy ending.
The scoreline capped a difficult afternoon for Oldham, who now face a fourth straight league defeat, while Salford celebrated a derby win that kept their positive momentum intact and moved them further up the table.
Key moments:
- 5 minutes – Luke Molineux (Salford) scored from the far corner with a cross from the right wing.
- 19 min – Kelly Enmei (Salford) lobbed a shot past Matt Hudson from 30 yards to make it 2-0.
- 21 min – Callum Kavanagh (Oldham) closes the gap with a low shot from the left side of Will Norris.
- Half-time – referee Isaac Sale signaled four minutes were needed, but blew the horn three minutes later and recalled players to complete the remaining time.
- 57′ — Brendan Willedu (Salford) scores to restore the two-goal lead.
- 81 min – Adebola Oluwo (Salford) seals the win with a header from Luke Garbutt’s free kick.
Ultimately, it was Salford’s composure and cool finishing that decided the game. They capitalized on an early start and effectively took control of the game after half-time chaos, while Oldham were left to reflect on missed opportunities and the need to arrest a decline in form.