Salford City boosted their automatic promotion hopes with a 2-0 victory over League Two leaders, Bromley at Peninsula Stadium.
Jorge Grant rifled Salford in front through a 52nd-minute strike, before Ollie Turton wrapped up victory with his 76th-minute header from Grant’s corner.
Salford consequently climbed to third ahead of the weekend’s action to guarantee a play-off spot at minimum, and would drop to fourth if Cambridge win at home to Barrow on Saturday 25 April.
Bromley meanwhile remained two points clear of MK Dons at the summit but would be displaced if Paul Warne’s Dons beat Tranmere on Saturday lunchtime.
With promotion having been secured last Saturday (18 April) after Notts County lost to Barnet, Bromley’s focus was now on securing the league title but they had to initially ride a strong start from Salford, as Rosaire Longelo won an early corner then curled over the top-left corner in the 10th minute.
Andy Woodman’s Ravens soon settled as Turton tugged Corey Whitely to concede a free-kick, which forced Matty Young into a block to deny Nicke Kabamba on the rebound, before Omar Sowunmi nodded wide from a corner moments later.
Salford however still posed a threat as Ryan Graydon met a forward overhead pass, only to fire his shot straight into Grant Smith’s arms.
Bromley though enjoyed a positive period on top as Ashley Charles saw a shot blocked which was recycled, only for Kabamba’s scruffy shot to be comfortably saved by Young.
Ben Krauhaus then slipped Whitely into the box with a slick pass under pressure as he twisted and turned just outside of the box, but Whitely blasted his tightly-angled shot wide over the bar.
Charles put a 35th-minute half-volley shot wide as Bromley continued to push for the opening goal, but Salford stood firm until half time as Smith saved a shot from Luke Garbutt.
Salford however found the breakthrough goal after a move started up the right side was worked out towards Garbutt, who set up Grant to rifle into his near-bottom left corner much to the home crowd’s delight.
Bromley however quickly set about chasing an equaliser as Omar Sowunmi skimmed the top of the ball as his 54th-minute shot rolled wide.
Graydon meanwhile failed to connect to Josh Austerfield’s 59th-minute low cross across the box as Salford missed a chance to double their lead, before he then curled wide minutes later.
Pinnock and substitutes, Ben Thompson plus Will Hondermarck put shots wide as Bromley soon got back on top.
Woodman’s Ravens however have won just one of their last six away matches and their lack of a clinical edge to beat Young proved costly, as Turton nodded in from a 76th-minute corner to double Salford’s lead.
Salford eventually saw out the win to move into the third automatic promotion spot, whilst the Peninsula Stadium remain a bogey club for Woodman’s Ravens who have now failed to win in three visits across all league competitions.
What’s Next?
Salford conclude their regular season away at Crawley on Saturday 2 May at 15:00pm BST.
Bromley meanwhile will look to finish the season with an unbeaten home record as they host Walsall at the CopperJax Stadium on the above date and time.
Teams
Salford: Matty Young, Rosaire Longelo (Mnoga 82′), Ollie Turton, Adebola Oluwo, Brandon Cooper, Luke Garbutt, Josh Austerfield, Matt Butcher, Jorge Grant (Borini 81′), Daniel Udoh, Ryan Graydon
Substitutes: Fabio Borini, Alfie Dorrington, Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, Mark Howard, Haji Mnoga, Nicolas Siri, Cole Stockton
Bromley: Grant Smith, Omar Sowunmi, Byron Webster (Odutayo 71′), Zech Medley, Marcus Ifill, Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs (Hondermarck 63′), Mitch Pinnock, Corey Whitely (Thompson 63′), Ben Krauhaus (Evans 70′), Nicke Kabamba
Substitutes: Damola Ajayi, Kyle Cameron, George Evans, Will Hondermarck, Sam Long, Idris Odutayo, Ben Thompson
Referee – Andrew Humphries
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