Salford City

Aimson’s late thunderbolt gives Salford an eighth straight league win and a five-point lead

Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Graham Goldthorpe

Salford City are five points clear at the top of League Two after making it eight league wins in a row on Saturday, and they needed a stunning goal from an unlikely source to do it. They came from behind to beat Exeter City 2–1, with the winner arriving two minutes from time.

Sonny Cox put Exeter in front in the first half, and Luke Garbutt pulled Salford level. Then, in the 88th minute, defender Will Aimson hit a spectacular 25-yard shot to settle it. According to the Press Association, the 32-year-old centre-back “opened his Ammies account in style” with the goal.

Salford manager Peter Cklamovski enjoyed the moment as much as anyone. “I was talking to Will Aimson after the game because I was like, ‘don’t shoot, don’t shoot’,” he joked. “Credit to him because he backed himself. It was a good shot and a great reward for the team.” He added that the key after conceding first was to “get a bit of rhythm and keep the ball in play as much as possible”, and that two goals came from the better second half.

Asked about the run itself, Cklamovski was cautious. Salford Now reported him saying that it “means nothing at the moment”, and he told the PA that there is “lots more work to do”. Even so, he said he had known the team was “on the right track” during the setback period at the start of the season.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor had no complaints about his players’ commitment. “I am so proud of what we have done today against the best team in the league, despite the cruelness of the scoreline in the end,” he said. “Could we have been more ruthless with our openings? Yeah, but it took a wonderstrike to beat us.” Taylor also said he was glad to see his centre-forward Cox on the scoresheet.

The league table now reads very well for Salford. Standing after the weekend’s games, they have 31 points from 14 matches, with 25 goals scored and 15 conceded. Barnet are second on 26 points after a 1–1 draw at Crewe Alexandra, so the gap is five points, although Barnet have played 13 games and so have a game in hand. Walsall are third on 22.

The run includes the 4–2 win at Walsall on Monday 26 October, and BBC form shows six wins in Salford’s last six league games.

The next test is a break from league football. Salford go to Carlisle in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday 7 November, with a 3pm kick-off. They return to League Two at home to Northampton Town on Saturday 14 November, also at 3pm, and the EFL Trophy brings a home game against Sunderland Under-21s on Tuesday 24 November at 7pm.

Cklamovski will be hoping that the same approach carries over to the cup tie at Carlisle.

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AIG Stadium

Away terrace North seats South seats Home terrace

AIG Stadium, still widely known as Moor Lane, is the compact home of Salford City in Kersal. The address for sat-nav is Moor Lane, Salford, M7 3PZ. Capacity is 5,108 after the 2016–17 rebuild that boxed in four covered stands. Visiting supporters usually get a clear, close view of the pitch rather than a cavernous bowl.

Away fans are typically housed in the covered East Terrace behind the goal, with extra seats sometimes opened in the Moor Lane (North) Stand. Allocations change by fixture, so check your ticket and the club’s match-day note before you travel. Entry for the away sections is usually Turnstile Block A on Moor Lane. Turnstiles commonly open around 90 minutes before kick-off; arrive early if you want food or a programme.

The ground sits in a residential pocket, not the city centre. There is no on-site supporter parking and many nearby streets are residents-only or time-restricted on match days. Street spaces on Moor Lane and the top of Kersal Road go quickly. Coaches and public transport are the easier options. Buses 93, 94 and 95 serve Moor Lane from Bury, Manchester and Salford Shopping Centre. Manchester Victoria is the nearest mainline station, then a bus or taxi of a few miles.

The venue is cashless. Card and contactless work at kiosks. Behind the East Stand you will usually find hot food and drinks (Babs’ Café is often listed for the away side) plus a concourse offering. Home bars such as Buck’s Bar are for home supporters. There are no pubs immediately outside the gates; The Star Inn in Higher Broughton is a common suggestion but it is a walk and can be awkward to find if you do not know the streets.

Expect a bag search. Travel light. Accessible bays and viewing are available in the away allocation via the same Moor Lane turnstiles; contact Salford in advance if you need a specific space. The East Terrace is about a dozen steps high, covered, and noisy for its size. Prefabricated panels mean a small away following can still generate sound. Seats in the North Stand are low and close to the pitch; six rows is typical of the newer side stands.

Salford play in orange and black and are nicknamed the Ammies. The stadium record crowd is 4,591 against Wrexham in February 2024. Atmosphere is tight rather than intimidating. Stewards will point you to the correct gate if you are unsure. After the match, leave time to clear the residential roads; do not block driveways.

Official updates live on salfordcityfc.co.uk. Confirm kick-off, turnstile letters and any roadworks (Agecroft works have affected Swinton and Clifton approaches). If you treat it as a small, modern League Two ground in a housing area, you will have a straightforward visit: covered standing or a handful of seats, card only, and a pitch that looks large because you are so close to it.