Not only did Quakers lose the game, they also lost their cool, seeing two players sent off in Alan White and Adam Mitchell. Manager Martin Gray and assistant Brian Atkinson were also sent to the stands on a miserable day for the promotion hopefuls.

Salford took the lead through Danny Webber on 32 minutes and Sam Madeley added the second in injury time, taking the hosts back to the top of the table.

They are now six points ahead of third-placed Darlington, though Quakers have five games in hand. Northwich, whose fixture was postponed, remain second.

Darlington's next match is at Heritage Park on Saturday against Ossett Town.

Goals: Webber (32, 1-0), Madeley (90, 2-0)

Bookings: Thompson (16, foul); J Lynch (22, foul); Portas (22, dissent), White (23, dissent); Seddon (45, foul); Brown (50, foul), Hulme (74, time wasting), Jameson (84, foul), Dean (89, foul)

Sendings off: White (62, second booking), A Mitchell (90, foul and abusive language)

Referee: Barry Cropp

Attendance: 902

Salford City: Lynch, Coo (Chadwick 75), Neville, Burton, Howson, Linwood, Dean, Jarrett, Webber (Spencer 89), Seddon (Madeley 89), Hulme. Subs (not used): Dunn, Morning

Darlington: Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Watson; Thompson (Hatch 71), Scott (A Mitchell 51), Portas, Galbraith; Cartman, Armstrong (Dowson 64). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Mota