Exeter City

Exeter City had most of the ball and 16 shots to Salford City's nine. It didn't matter. Will Aimson, a former Exeter captain, won it for the leaders from 25 yards two minutes from time. It was the 32-year-old centre-back's first goal for Salford, their eighth league win in a row, and a 2-1 that was hard on Exeter.

For most of the first half Exeter were the better side. A poor backpass let Sonny Cox in, and Will Norris brought him down a yard outside the box. The Salford keeper was perhaps lucky to see only yellow, and he saved Luca Woodhouse's free-kick. Ten minutes later the visitors were ahead. Harry Kite won the ball in midfield and found Cox wide, and his low shot across goal went in, with Taylor Perry bundling it over the line to make sure. It went down as Cox's, his second of the season.

Exeter in control

Scully, Charlie Cummins and Woodhouse all had chances to double the lead before the break, and Salford went in a goal down with three players booked. Elliott Bonds and Brendan Wiredu had followed Norris into the book.

The home side lost Luke Molyneux to injury ten minutes after the restart, with Daniel Udoh coming on. Their equaliser came on 66 minutes, just after George Birch had two chances for Exeter in quick succession. A low cross was fizzed in and Luke Garbutt got across his man to poke it home. It was Salford's first shot on target.

Aimson finds the corner

Both sides made changes, and Exeter kept shooting. Jack Bycroft saved from Wiredu, and Norris got down well to stop Reece Cole's drive. Lakyle Samuel and Josh Gordon also went close for the visitors.

Daniel Udoh was played through and forced wide by Jack Taylor, and Samuel, on loan from Manchester City, put one inches past the post. Then, on 88 minutes, Odoh played the ball to Aimson 25 yards out, and he smashed it into the top corner. In the first of five added minutes Aimson made a brilliant block to deny Ethan Sutherland. Salford found a way again.

"Don't shoot, don't shoot"

Peter Cklamovski admitted he had not exactly urged his centre-back on.

I was talking to Will Aimson after the game because I was like, 'don't shoot, don't shoot'. Credit to him because he backed himself. It was a good shot and a great reward for the team.

Peter Cklamovski, Salford City boss (PA)

Matt Taylor was proud of Exeter and stung by the way it ended.

Could we have been more ruthless with our openings and our moments, and our chances in the game? Yeah, but it took a wonderstrike to beat us.

Matt Taylor, Exeter City boss (PA)

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.

Matt Taylor