Salford City were promoted to the English Football League for the first time in their history as they beat AFC Fylde 3-0 in the National League promotion final.
Emmanuel Dieseruvwe netted the opener in the 15th minute after the ball fell fortuitously following a mix-up in the Fylde defence, before Carl Piergianni headed in a second just after half-time.
Ibou Touray secured the win for Salford as his lob beat keeper Jay Lynch, going in off the inside of the post.
The result means Salford, the club part-owned by six former Manchester United team-mates, continue their impressive rise up the football pyramid, with a fourth promotion since they were taken over in 2014.
United’s “Class of 92” – initially Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs – took control of the Ammies in 2014.
Former England captain David Beckham joined his former team-mates in January by purchasing a 10% stake, with Singapore businessman Peter Lim owning the remaining 40% of the club.
Two clubs enjoying rapid rises
Fylde were a 10th-tier club just over a decade ago and were hoping to complete their own rapid rise to the EFL, but were well beaten in the first of their two trips to Wembley in the space of eight days.
Dave Challinor’s side will play National League winners Leyton Orient in the FA Trophy final on 19 May.
The Ammies, who were watched on by their co-owners at Wembley, raced into the lead when Devonte Redmond’s free-kick was cleared by Danny Rowe against the back of Luke Burke and fell straight into the path of Dieseruvwe.
And the Greater Manchester club nearly doubled their advantage as Nathan Pond headed a corner just wide mid-way through the first half, while Fylde midfielder Ryan Croasdale forced a good save from Salford keeper Chris Neal and Coasters’ full-back Andy Bond struck a good effort over the bar.
Defender Piergianni netted for the Ammies in their semi-final 1-1 draw against Eastleigh, which was won 4-3 on penalties, and the centre-back was on the scoresheet again, heading home a Touray corner in the 53rd minute.
The Gambia international then rounded off Salford’s famous win with a superb curling effort to wrap up the promotion for the Moor Lane outfit.
Victory ensured Salford spent just one term in the fifth tier, and the club have made it no secret of their desire to play at a higher level, bringing in manager Graham Alexander who achieved promotion through 2013-14’s League Two play-offs with Fleetwood.
However, after signing striker Adam Rooney from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen for an undisclosed fee in July, Salford co-owner Gary Neville was accused of trying to “steal” an EFL spot by Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt in a row between the pair on social media in July.
On the pitch the side have been pulling in the same direction, competing for the league title up until the final day before ending the regular season with a 3rd place finish.
Fylde’s rise up the non-league pyramid had been just as rapid as Salford’s, with chairman David Haythornthwaite stating in 2007 – when the club was known as Kirkham & Wesham – that he wanted to get them into the Football League within 15 years.
The Coasters were looking to achieve that aim well ahead of schedule after finishing fifth in the league before defeating Harrogate Town and Solihull Moors in the play-offs.
More to follow.
