An historic night under the lights saw Salford City reach Round Three of the Carabao Cup for the first time ever with a penalty shoot-out win over Leeds United!
In a cruel twist of fate it was two former Whites that thwarted the Championship side as Matt Smith scored the opening goal, and Alex Cairns put in the performance of a lifetime to keep out many of over 30 chances for the visitors.
Penalties for the second time in the competition it was, and in front of the West Stand Salford prevailed 9-8. Georginio Rutter was the first to slip-up as his low effort was saved by Cairns, but on the first decisive opportunity McLennan hit the bar.
The frame of the goal also denied penalty taker number 10 for Leeds, Jamie Shackleton, with Ashley needing to score his penalty to win. Darlow saved the first attempt, but with the referee and the linesman spotting the former Newcastle United ‘keeper off his line they ordered a re-take, and this time Ashley made no mistake.
However two injury-time goals ended Bolton Wanderers’ hopes of a prolonged run in the Carabao Cup as Championship side Middlesbrough struck late to secure their place in round three.
Ian Evatt’s men led through Dion Charles’ fourth goal of the season but But the Teessiders managed to get themselves level before the break and then finally made their pressure pay minutes away from a penalty shoot-out as Wanderers’ resolute back line was finally breached again as substitutes Riley McGree and Morgan Rogers both found the net to give their side a slightly flattering margin of victory.
