A LAST minute Neil Spencer goal saw Clitheroe secure top spot once again after a cracking encounter that also included four red cards.

Salford took the lead on 15 minutes with a neat header from ex-Clitheroe striker Lee Buggie.

The home side created a couple of half chances before they equalised on 40 minutes, with Chris Whittingham applying the finish from a superb Stuart Todhunter pass.

The first half ended with an unsavoury fracas on the halfway line involving both teams and the referee sent off Clitheroe's Russell Clark and Salford's Phil Porter.

Whittingham and Glenn Ainsworth both went close early in the second half before Buggie scored his second for Salford before the referee took centre stage.

Ainsworth was booked for an alleged dive some 35 yards from goal, and as he had been cautioned in the first half for dissent Clitheroe were reduced to nine men for the second successive game.

A superb recovery though saw them deservedly take all three points.

First Andy Cowking equalised with a superb 30-yard free kick before Spencer stole the victory at the death, slamming home Stansfield's header from 10 yards.

In the dying seconds the referee evened up the playing numbers by as Salford's Peter Smythe saw red for an off the ball incident.

CLITHEROE ...3

SALFORD CITY ...2