Under-pressure Mark Applegarth insists winless Wakefield will turn the corner despite a “cruel” golden-point defeat.
Salford’s Marc Sneyd struck a 85th minute drop goal to break Trinity hearts as they fell to a fifth successive defeat. The relegation favourites looked capable of finally breaking their duck only to suffer yet more heartache. Rookie head coach Applegarth is still seeking his elusive first victory.
He said: “It stings. We gave them just one pressure release with a forward pass in extra-time and that’s how cruel this game can be. With a kicker of Sneyd’s quality, you will get punished. It’s a little bit of (lack of) smarts from us but I’m really proud of the effort.
“They are trying their hardest. It came to one moment and it cost us. But after five games we’re still only a couple of wins from the play-off spots. If it was ten or 11 games, it’d be different.
"But we’re confident if we carry on what we’re doing, there’ll be some luck around the corner.”
An error-ridden contest came to life with late drama. Mason Lino’s 69th minute penalty for Wakefield had been the only score of a dour second period. That levelled matters at 12-12 but Salford thought they’d taken the lead three minutes later. Liam Kay spilled England star Sneyd’s spiralling kick and Shane Wright ran in the leftovers. However, referee Marcus Griffiths had controversially already blown up for the knock-on.
But in the next set, Sneyd slotted his first drop goal and the shoot-out was up and running.
Salford allowed Wakefield’s restart to bounce into touch so Lino immediately canceled it out with his own one-pointer. But Lino missed two more drop goal attempts in normal time and Sneyd was also off target with one miscued effort as tensions rose. Sneyd, did get a drop goal over with 15 seconds left - only for Griffiths to pull Salford up for an incorrect play-the-ball.
However, the ex-Hull scrum-half joyfully sealed it in extra-time after Wakefield handed over possession on halfway. Salford led 12-10 at half-time after Sneyd had improved Matty Costello and Chris Atkin tries. Corey Hall’s try was Wakefield’s first points in more than FOUR hours of action.
They’d not scored in any of their last three matches but Reece Lyne quickly added another with Lino slotting a conversion. It wasn’t enough, though, as Salford - without Dream Team centre Tim Lafai after a training ground hamstring injury - sealed their third win of the season.
Red Devils boss Paul Rowley said: “I’ve never been involved in a golden-point game before.
"I’m not sure exciting’s the right word. I was relieved in the end - that was stressful. There were two sharpshooters out there in Sneydy and Mason Lino.
"Luckily, we got into position to win it and Sneydy held his nerve and did what he's done many times before. But it was ugly."
