Matt Butcher hurts Magpies with last-gasp winner for promotion-chasing Salford

Matt Butcher scored a dramatic last-gasp winner as Salford beat promotion rivals Notts County 2-1 in Sky Bet League Two.

Butcher fired home from the edge of the box in the sixth minute of stoppage time to spark scenes of pandemonium among the bumper Peninsula Stadium crowd.

His decisive goal came after a chaotic period of stoppage time saw Ryan Graydon’s opener two minutes in controversially cancelled out by Luke Browne.

Salford started brightly and went close to opening the scoring eight minutes into a breathless first half when Ryan Graydon headed a clipped cross from Princewill Ehibhatiomhan against a post.

Jacob Bedeau cleared a curling shot from Ehibhatiomhan off the line before Notts County goalkeeper James Belshaw twice denied Luke Garbutt with diving saves as Salford piled on the pressure in the opening 17 minutes.

Alassana Jatta miscued a speculative overhead kick attempt before Conor Grant had a powerful shot blocked by Brandon Cooper as Notts County grew into the contest as the half wore on.

Salford forward Daniel Udoh failed to turn home Graydon’s low cross before Notts County substitute Tyrese Hall scuffed a shot wide with the goal at his mercy as both sides missed golden chances to take the lead in the second half.

And with time running out, January signing Graydon glanced home a header from a corner two minutes into stoppage time.

Notts County appeared to have snatched a late equaliser three minutes later when a long ball caused havoc in the Salford box and, with keeper Matthew Young on the ground appealing for a foul, Browne tapped into an empty net to set up a grandstand finish.

But Salford refused to have their hearts broken as Butcher smashed a volley through a crowd of bodies to win the game at the death.