First-half goals from Sean Long and Liam Sercombe steered League Two leaders Cheltenham to victory over play-off hopefuls Salford.
They struck early when a trademark Ben Tozer long throw was launched into the six-yard box and Long, timing his run to perfection, headed home.
There was almost a second midway through the half when hesitancy from Salford defender Ashley Eastham allowed Alfie May to nip in and clip the ball past keeper Vaclav Hladky but also past the far post.
Cheltenham did double their advantage on 42 minutes when Matty Blair darted down the right and fizzed in a low cross which Hladky could only push into the path of Sercombe who forced the ball over the line from six yards.
The visitors offered little in the opening half, their best chance a 25-yard free-kick over the target from Ash Hunter, and boss Richie Wellens made a triple change at the break.
And it was one of those substitutes, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, who thought he had halved the deficit on 72 minutes only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Cheltenham
Formation 3-5-2
- 20Griffiths
- 2Long
- 4Tozer
- 17Freestone
- 11Blair
- 26SercombeBooked at 16mins
- 7ThomasBooked at 64mins
- 23WrightSubstituted forChapmanat 83'minutes
- 3Hussey
- 9SmithSubstituted forAzazat 88'minutes
- 10MaySubstituted forWilliamsat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Flinders
- 14Williams
- 18Azaz
- 24Horton
- 25Chamberlain
- 28Chapman
- 29Vassilev
Salford
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Hladky
- 12BernardSubstituted forJamesat 45'minutes
- 5Eastham
- 16Turnbull
- 10Hunter
- 4Lowe
- 18Threlkeld
- 3Touray
- 19WilsonSubstituted forDieseruvweat 45'minutes
- 24GottsSubstituted forThomas-Asanteat 45'minutes
- 40Henderson
Substitutes
- 2James
- 15Burgess
- 20Dieseruvwe
- 31Evans
- 33Loughlin
- 36Hawkins
- 37Thomas-Asante
Live Text
Match ends, Cheltenham Town 2, Salford City 0.
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 2, Salford City 0.
Foul by Emmanuel Dieseruvwe (Salford City).
Ben Tozer (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ashley Eastham (Salford City).
Matty Blair (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Finn Azaz replaces Sam Smith.
Tom James (Salford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Smith (Cheltenham Town).
Offside, Salford City. Brandon Thomas-Asante tries a through ball, but Ian Henderson is caught offside.
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Tom James.
Attempt blocked. Sam Smith (Cheltenham Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Thomas.
Attempt missed. Oscar Threlkeld (Salford City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Andy Williams replaces Alfie May.
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Ellis Chapman replaces Callum Wright.
Attempt blocked. Lewis Freestone (Cheltenham Town) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Tozer.
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Tom James.
Hand ball by Conor Thomas (Cheltenham Town).
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Jason Lowe.
Offside, Salford City. Jordan Turnbull tries a through ball, but Ian Henderson is caught offside.