Grant’s late double keeps Cklamovski’s Salford top after a first win at Cheltenham

Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Owen Pritchett

Salford City are still top of League Two, and on Saturday they showed they can win when they are not at their best. Jorge Grant scored twice in the last six minutes at 10-man Cheltenham to give Peter Cklamovski’s side a 2–0 win, their first ever victory at Cheltenham.

For a long time it looked like a stalemate. Cheltenham gave as good as they got, according to the Press Association report, and Wyll Stanway denied Macaulay Langstaff when he was played through five minutes before half-time. The game turned on 78 minutes, when Ben Stevenson was sent off for denying Brendan Wiredu a clear goalscoring opportunity near the edge of the box.

Salford made the extra man count. Grant’s first came when Freddy Willcox, on the ground, tried to clear from his own box and Grant’s perfectly timed challenge sent the ball flying into the net. It was his first goal of the season. He added a second in the third minute of added time, finishing into the top corner to seal the points.

Cklamovski was honest about a difficult first half. “We couldn’t get going in the first half, which is credit to the opponent,” he said. “They were aggressive and a good side, but we regrouped and Kallum came on and make an impact.” He singled out substitute Kallum Cesay. “He really ignited some attacks for us, setting up Jorge’s first after a super pass from Luke Molyneux. I am really pleased to get three points from a tough away game, with two good goals.”

The defending pleased him just as much. “It’s another clean sheet, which is a strong aspect we want to continue to build and pleased with how we executed that,” he said. “First half, they didn’t have a shot in the box. It felt like a strong performance defensively again in the second and we deserved the clean sheet.” Will Norris was rarely tested in the Salford goal.

The result extended Salford’s winning run in the league to four games and took them to 19 points from ten matches, one clear at the top. That lead comes with a warning, though. Barnet are second on 18 points with two games in hand, and Crewe are also on 18. Salford have lost three times this season, all in the opening weeks, and have been close to faultless since.

Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill disputed the sending-off and felt his side were the better team before it, but Salford will not mind. Winning tight away games with a clean sheet is what promotion sides do.

There is no time to rest. Bottom club Crawley visit the AIG Stadium on Saturday 17 October, and Salford then travel to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday 20 October. Next comes a Monday night trip to unbeaten Walsall on 26 October (20:00), before Exeter, who have the best defensive record in the division, visit on 31 October.

Cklamovski’s side have set the standard for now, but with Barnet’s games in hand still to be played, they cannot afford many slips.