Chris Forino and Carlos Mendes Gomes both played for an hour to build up their match fitness as the B Team lost to the Central League leaders, writes Pete Oliver.
Central defender Forino added to his 45-minute run-out in Andy Taylor’s side a week ago and his two late substitute appearances at first team-level to gain more useful game time after a four month-lay off.
And Mendes Gomes also added to his workload to stay in contention for a first-team return after recovering from the injury that had sidelined the forward since mid-January.
Mendes Gomes went close to a goal with an effort that clipped a post from just outside the penalty area with the scores level before the break.
But the first-team duo couldn’t help the young Whites make it a hat-trick of wins as Salford scored a spectacular late winner after Mark Isong had levelled for Wanderers with 10 minutes to go.
The Whites had put six past Wrexham and won a quarter-final of the LFA Senior Cup in their past two outings but didn’t hit the same heights again in a below-par performance.
“The first half, in particular, was disappointing in how we started the game,” admitted B Team boss Taylor. “We were off on the press and in possession we looked laboured. The second half was better but it's very difficult when you've had 45 minutes playing at that tempo to then, all of a sudden, flick a switch and up the tempo.
“We didn't deserve to lose it, but in terms of performance, which is obviously our main thing, it was a million miles away from where we need to be and where, in fairness to them, they have been getting to over the last few weeks.
“It was disappointing after what I felt we've been building to, so it’s a lesson in terms of that you've got to be on it every single day. You've got to push yourself every single day and every single game.
“It just felt like a step back, but we re-group and we've got a decent run of fixtures now. I think probably the underlying message for me is that every day we say to the players ‘every day is an opportunity, every game is an opportunity'.
“There's first-team staff watching. Go and seize the opportunity and today we didn't. We let that one pass by. We coasted through that one which is disappointing.”
Wanderers certainly made a sluggish start and needed goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson to be alert to make a number of decent saves to keep his side on terms at half-time.
The Whites then had the better of a scrappy contest without ever really taking charge, although player-coach Andrew Tutte had a chance to give his side the lead before substitute Trevon Bryan livened things up and twice tested Salford keeper Matty Young.
Wanderers looked the potential winners at that point but young City striker Will Wright pounced to add to his prolific goal tally at youth and reserve level to give the visitors the lead.
And although Isong collected a pass from Bryan to cut in and curl home an equaliser, it was the table-toppers who took all three points when substitute Alfie Henderson crashed home an unstoppable volley seven minutes from the end to enhance City’s title hopes.
Wanderers: Hutchinson; Toole, Forino (Hogan 60), Inwood; Westwood, Halford (Tutte HT), Leigh, Weston (Rice 70); Mendes Gomes (Bryan 60), Isong, Andreucci (Lewis 80).
Salford City: Young; Watson, Trialist, Okoronkwo, Edwards, Berkoe, Lancaster, Curran-Nicholls, Wright, Malcolm, Bairstow. Substitutes used: Butt, Padovani, Bowen, Henderson, Midgley.
Referee: Jacon Viera