THREE goals in dramatic stoppage-time as Salford beat promotion rivals Notts County 2-1

There were THREE goals in a dramatic stoppage-time as Salford City beat fellow promotion rivals Notts County 2-1 on Good Friday.

Matt Butcher netted from the edge of the box in the sixth minute of stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations for the hosts.

It came after Ryan Graydon’s opener for the Ammies two minutes into added time, which was then controversially cancelled out by Luke Browne who levelled for Notts County on 95 minutes.

Earlier in the game, Salford’s Graydon saw a headed a clipped cross from Princewill Ehibhatiomhan come back off the post, Jacob Bedeau cleared a chance from Ehibhatiomhan off the line, Notts County keeper James Belshaw twice kept out Luke Garbutt with incredible diving saves just 17 minutes in, setting up for what would end up being a chaotic game.

Incredible scenes at the Peninsula Stadium with three goals all inside six minutes of stoppage time! 🤯

(𝟗𝟎’+𝟐) 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 1-0 Notts CountySalford City 1-1 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 (𝟗𝟎’+𝟓)(𝟗𝟎’+𝟔) 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 2-1 Notts County pic.twitter.com/oCgH7nDWVV

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 3, 2026

Scenes. pic.twitter.com/2Y892T3fND

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) April 3, 2026

Salford boss Karl Robinson said: “I thought we were very good and should have been maybe one or two goals ahead in the first half.

“We ended up getting a great goal from a set-piece that was worked on in the week, and then their goal was a blatant foul.

“But our lads responded to that. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never experienced that.

“When we conceded, we’d got a minute and a half left. When you score you are at your most vulnerable and we tried to reverse that.

“Matt Butcher is making a bit of a name for himself with goals, and when I saw it go in, I was gone.

“It just made no sense. And as far as winning goals go, it was a brilliant strike.

“We are four points ahead of where we finished last year with five games to go. It’s our most wins in the EFL in the club’s history.

“We work hard every day to be as successful as we possibly can, but I have just seen things today that are beyond words.”

Notts County boss Martin Paterson said: “We had a clear-cut chance with Tyrese that I thought could have maybe got us one goal ahead. We missed that, which happens in football, no blame on that – it’s how football goes.

“And then we switch off for a set-play, it’s as simple as that.

“Someone doesn’t do their job as Graydon runs across the front post and he heads it in.

“All of a sudden, you’ve got to react, which we did. We got the ball forward, put as many bodies forward as we could and got the equaliser.

“Then you’ve got to shut the game down. Sometimes you’ve got to take your medicine and say, ‘OK, it’s a draw at home’.

“But again, we cleared the first bit of the set play, and someone switched off on the edge of the box and they scored.

“Two set plays have undone us, and that’s not good enough.

“We have made massive improvements in that area from when I first got here, and we’ve just switched off today.”

Here’s the social media reaction after THREE goals in dramatic stoppage-time as Salford beat promotion rivals Notts County 2-1…

@DonF4: Just seen today’s ref was Seb Stockbridge. A scourge of County since forever. He’d have kept playing till Salford found a winner so no surprise in the extra, extra time…

@PhilBlundell: Refs can give us football back by giving keepers free kicks again. That second goal would have been given as a free kick before the scorer even had a shot 10 years ago.

@adamjamesred: Losing like that right at the death really hurts. But the squad is so depleted. Missing five genuine first-team starters, so #Notts are massively disadvantaged. No Platt, Tsaroulla, McDonald, JJ, Robertson – and Norburn’s suspension, but he’s alternated with Robbo. Massive losses

@LucasNCFC: I’ve calmed down I think 😂 all I can say is we probably deserved a draw today considering we came out the second half better. Missing too many injured players, Hall’s an idiot and should’ve hit that open goal and lost us a point. Must win Monday. #Notts

@Joe_Loughran26: Anyone else still in shock? Genuinely struggling to comprehend what I’ve just witnessed #notts

@lalpj100: Supporting Notts county is a sure fire way to an early grave 😖 #Notts

@SimplySuvo92: An absolute body blow. Belshaw was superb and and was adamant we’d saved a point. To concede a corner within seconds of kick-off is extremely amateurish. #Notts

@AliNCFC: As horrible as that result is, we are still very much in it. Luckily, the others at the top didn’t take advantage of our loss. Win on Monday, and look to Cambridge – few around us have difficult fixtures as well. Keep believing 🤞🖤🤍 #Notts

@Robertnotts: Macari & Hall getting some pelters, from the same fans that were calling Iopenda crap earlier in the season, support the team, if you are not head in hands like the players and straight on here to moan, we do not need your negativity going into the last 5 👋 up the #Notts

Can sit and be angry at players but sometimes you have to remember there’s a 20 year old lad dealing with this.

Mistakes will happen. Experienced players this season have done the same.

5 games left. Might as well get behind the boys rather than on their backs #notts pic.twitter.com/qyxwTQc3r5

— Lee Beighton (@leebeighton) April 3, 2026