Salford City 0 Carlisle United 1: Substitute Ben Barclay’s late header earned Carlisle a dramatic and much-needed win at Salford.
The defender hurled himself at an excellent corner from fellow sub Harrison Biggins and triggered great celebrations in the 1,366-strong away end at the Peninsula Stadium.
It was a first win in eight league games and gave Mike Williamson’s side a sorely-needed boost in their battle at the wrong end of League Two.
The goal capped a strong spell in the second half from the Cumbrians after they had been on the defensive for much of the opening period.
Barclay had only been on the pitch for four minutes after replacing Aaron Hayden in the closing stages, when he scored his first goal since that famous play-off winner against Bradford City last May.
The strike and victory – including a clean sheet from Gabe Breeze in goal and a substitute debut for Kadeem Harris – cut second-bottom United’s gap to the survival mark to one point ahead of the 3pm kick-offs on Saturday
United boss Williamson kept faith with keeper Breeze as Harry Lewis’ 34-game run of league starts came to an end.
There were two changes to the XI that started against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, meanwhile, with Callum Guy in for the suspended Ethan Robson and Luke Armstrong taking the place of Taylor Charters.
On the bench for the first time was Harris, United having announced his signing on a short-term deal on the morning of the game, international clearance having also been confirmed.
Salford boss Karl Robinson made five changes to his XI, with recalls for Jamie Jones, Stephan Negru, Tyrese Fornah, Jon Taylor and Frankie Okoronkwo back in, and ex-Carlisle striker among their substitutes.
In front of a packed away end at the Peninsula Stadium, Carlisle often found themselves on the defensive as Salford dominated early territory.
An early Luke Garbutt cross tested Breeze and, after a Jon Mellish run at left wing-back went unrewarded, Robinson’s side upped the pressure.
Ossama Ashley, after winning the ball back from Guy, hit a rising shot over the bar with Tyrese Fornah also seeing an attempt deflect wide.
Salford has penalty shouts turned down as Dan Adu-Adjei challenged Haji Mnoga after a corner, before Carlisle broke and carved out a rare chance, Armstrong shooting high over the bar with a first-time finish after good work by Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, who later had a 25-yard shot blocked.
Otherwise, it was mainly Salford on top, with Breeze showing good reactions to push a Kylian Kouassi shot past the post when the Ammies frontmen broke through to the left.
Mellish showed good reactions to deny Mnoga, while Harrison Neal made a crucial block to deny Kouassi after Breeze’s save from Ossama Ashley’s shot broke back out.
Salford were forced into a half-time change with Jon Taylor failing to reappear for the second 45 after being hurt in a challenge with Sadi in the final moments of the first half.
Kyrell Malcolm took his place and, on 52 minutes, Breeze had to deal with a whipped Garbutt free-kick after Mellish had tripped Mnoga.
At the other end, a Blues break on the hour almost opened Salford up, Sadi feeding Mellish, whose low cross for Armstrong brought a last-ditch block from Stephan Negru.
Changes then came as Cameron Harper replaced Burey on the right and Harrison Biggins also came on, with Guy also going off, Salford also making another switch as Conor McAleny replaced Okoronkwo.
Salford sub Conor McAleny was quickly onto the attack and United needed a Terell Thomas block to deny him.
Sadi failed to make the most of a counter-attack for Carlisle, before Harris came on for his debut on 72 minutes, the new signing replacing Armstrong.
Harris, to the left in attacking midfield, was involved in an immediate attack which led Sadi to have a shot blocked.
Aaron Hayden then headed a back-post Biggins delivery into the side-netting as Carlisle applied decent pressure.
And they could have won it in the 83rd minute when Neal’s diagonal ball was slipped by Sadi to Adu-Adjei, but the striker, having got away from Curtis Tilt in the box, ran over the ball and Salford cleared.
But United then struck dramatically, after Barclay had replaced Hayden and Sadi won a corner.
Biggins’ delivery from the left was dangerous and Barclay was there to connect with a diving header to send the away end wild.
Salford sent on Stockton in added time, and the sub almost levelled when Lund’s shot was saved, but Stockton rifled the rebound just over.
United survived a last-gasp corner to secure the points as further scenes of celebration then unfolded in the vocal away end as Williamson claimed his second win as Blues head coach.
Salford: Jones, Negru (Stockton 90), Garbutt, Tilt, Austerfield (Lund 80), Ashley, Taylor (Malcolm 46), Fornah, Mnoga (Shephard 80), Okoronkwo (McAleny 63), Kouassi. Not used: Young, Luamba.
Booked: Mnoga
United: Breeze, Hayden (Barclay 85), Lavelle, Thomas, Mellish, Neal, Guy (Harper 63), Burey (Biggins 63), Sadi, Armstrong (Harris 72), Adu-Adjei. Not used: Lewis, Charters, Vela.
Goal: Barclay 88.
Booked: Adu-Adjei, Neal.
Ref: Ross Joyce.
Crowd: 3,737 (1,366 United fans).
