BLUES were at their best to see off Salford.

Their super show earns a semi final date with Bootle next month but for now Winsford should savour stunning the title favourites.

Such was their dominance that keeper Michael Langley did not make a single save.

The hosts began brightly with Les Miranda causing problems in his role as a lone front runner.

His main obstacle was a carefully laid offside trap set by the visitors that caught the league's leading scorer on numerous occasions.

However, a neat pass down the right by Mark Calland on 28 minutes saw Miranda time his run perfectly and, after drawing Chris Petrov from his goal, he slammed the ball home.

Blues had nearly taken the lead as early as the seventh minute when Lee Thompson broke clear on the right but his powerful shot just cleared the bar.

The visitors' attacks were few and far between and invariably foundered on Winsford's tight-knit defence.

As half time approached the hosts spurned a great chance to double their lead when Miranda's header was blocked on the line by Petrov but no one was on hand to poke home the rebound.

Salford showed a little more threat after the break and it took a last ditch interception by Dave Ridler to prevent Jon Robinson scoring.

But Blues soon regained control with flowing moves that saw Thompson and Miranda go close.

New signing John Couch added the necessary steel to the midfield and he was well supported by Dean Ennion and Ross Kennedy. As a result the visitors were rarely allowed to settle on the ball and their attacks were fewer and fewer.

Conversely Blues were piling on the pressure and Miranda saw his shot on 71 minutes clip the bar.

Thompson was the next to go close but Petrov did well to save his shot on the line and Ennion's effort from the edge of the box was cleared off by a defender's outstretched foot.

It looked as if it was going to be just the single goal but star man Kennedy had other ideas and, as injury time approached, his lob over Petrov had just enough power to cross the line.

Star Man: Ross Kennedy
Blues: Langley (GK) (Hughes 90), Calland, Duckworth, Barnes, Ridler, Couch, Thompson, Ennion, Connell (Sayer 74), Miranda (Dears 90), Kennedy
Attendance: 138