Two second-half goals gave Salford City victory over Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium .

Tyler Walton was unlucky to hit the woodwork for the Reds in the first half before goals from Haji Mnoga and Cole Stockton sealed the win for the promotion-chasing Ammies.

With Zach Awe suspended, Ben Woods returned to the starting line-up following his ban in the only change to the starting XI from Monday’s 1-1 draw at Fleetwood.

Stanley forced a couple of early corners with City keeper Matty Young tipping one over the bar.

Salford grew into the game and forced a number of set-pieces around the box in the opening 20 minutes without testing Billy Crellin.

On 23 minutes Dara Costelloe broke quickly but could not find the finish - this was the first shot from either side.

Ben Woodburn’s deflected effort was collected by Crellin on the half-hour mark as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.

The Reds had the best chance of the half and were unlucky on 38 minutes when Walton played a long ball to Shaun Whalley on the left. He raced across the edge of the area and passed to winger Walton whose strike hit the inside of the far post, rolled across the line and was then gratefully collected by Young.

Salford struck three minutes after the restart when they broke on the left and Ossama Ashley’s cross was fired home from close range by Mnoga.

Reds boss John Doolan made two changes just before the hour mark with Jimmy Knowles and Josh Woods entering the fray, before Alex Henderson came on soon after.

The game became stop-start with both sides struggling to make chances, Henderson firing straight at Young on 70 minutes.

Salford got the vital second on 85 minutes when Garbutt’s free-kick on the right found top scorer Stockton in the area and he headed home their second.

Young kept out Nelson Khumbeni in added time as City left with the points.

Stanley: Crellin, Aljofree, Rawson, Love, O’Brien, Khumbeni, Coyle, B Woods (Hunter), Whalley (Knowles), Costelloe (Henderson), Walton (J Woods). Subs not used: Kelly, Popoola, Conneely.

Attendance: 2,350 (414 away).