Hat-trick hero Matt Smith hits Salford to victory at Crewe

Posted Sunday, January 28, 2024 by PA

Matt Smith hit a hat-trick as Salford shocked in-form Crewe by clinching a 3-2 win at Gresty Road in League Two.

The giant striker headed the Ammies in front early on and then levelled with a set-piece header after Aaron Rowe and Elliot Nevitt fired Crewe ahead before the break.

Smith then grabbed an 85th-minute winner as Salford extended their unbeaten start to life under Karl Robinson to four games and ended the hosts’ four-match winning run.

The visitors got off to a strong start when Smith headed Luke Bolton’s flighted cross in off the underside of the bar in the fourth minute.

They pushed for a second as Junior Luamba robbed Lewis Billington and raced clear only to shoot past the post, before Smith prodded a shot straight at goalkeeper Tom Booth.

Crewe hit back with two quickfire goals before half-time. Rowe equalised in the 44th minute with a fine finish from the edge of the box before Billington crossed for Nevitt to head home from close range in stoppage time.

Smith had Salford level 10 minutes after the interval when he glanced home Luke Garbutt’s corner at the near post.

Shilow Tracey fired wide and Nevitt forced a near-post save from Salford goalkeeper Alex Cairns as Crewe responded.

But Salford secured all three points when substitute Matt Lund provided the ball across the box for Smith to squeeze home a far-post finish in the 85th minute.