Daisy Hill hit late winning goal against AFC Knowsley

The visitors had taken an early lead through Ben Taylor, before Will Shawcross levelled for Daisy 10 minutes into the second half.

Daisy dominated possession as the game wore on, but just as it looked like they would have to settle for a point, Salkeld struck with virtually the last kick of the game to secure back-to-back wins for Daisy in the North West Counties League First Division North.

And manager Nicky Hunt was full of praise for his side after the game.

"Credit to the lads because they've fully deserved that victory," said Hunt.

"If it had been a draw or if we had lost, that would have been a complete travesty.

"They (AFC Knowsley) are a well-organised team, they've got pace in wide areas, and they made it difficult for us, especially first half.

"Saying that, I think they had one shot and scored, but it just gave us a bit of a shake-up and thought, yeah, we're in a proper game here now.

"We created two or three really good openings, and 1-0 going in at half time was frustrating for us because we'd done a lot of good work, but just the final pass killed us.

"So that's what I said at half time, keep doing what you're doing, but just change your final ball quality.

"We were knocking on the door the whole of the second-half, getting in behind constantly, but it was just the final ball.

"We worked extremely hard off the ball, and our shape was really good at times.

"And we've obviously got firepower to go and score goals and to go and create chances.

"You've just got to take your chances, you've just got to be in the right place at the right time.

"I'm pleased that Will got another goal and I'm really pleased that James has got his first goal for the club because he's going to be a really important player for us this season.

"It's a victory for us, six points out of six, and on to Thursday night's training now."

Daisy began on the front foot, and Ollie Partington tested Knowsley keeper Liam Sergent with an early shot from long range before the visitors took the lead in the ninth minute with their first chance.

It was a fine solo goal from Ben Taylor, who picked the ball up wide on the left before cutting inside, evading two challenges and burying a shot past Daisy keeper Josh Brooks at the near post.

But Daisy hit back and after Sergent in the Knowsley goal had to push a Kris Holt piledriver away for a corner, he made another smart stop to deny Gerry McCullion from a close-range volley.

The final action of the half saw Hugo Nowacki shoot just wide after a mazy run, and after the break Daisy picked up where they left off, and finally drew level on 55 minutes.

The Knowsley defence failed to clear their lines when defending a corner onto the box, and Shawcross beat the keeper from close range to take his goal tally to three in two games.

Straight from the restart, Daisy regained possession and a long clearance through the middle put Salkeld through on goal, but his attempt to lob the ball over the keeper drifted over.

Shawcross and Nowacki had further chances for Daisy before Brooks was called into action to make two saves in as many minutes, from Knowsley’s Bobby Connor and Leo Turkington.

Further efforts at the other end from Nowacki and substitute Fionn Murphy failed to break the deadlock as Daisy poured forward in search of a winner, and they were almost caught out two minutes from time when a Connor shot beat Brooks and rebounded off the outside of the post.

But in the final minute of stoppage time Daisy finally got their reward, when a right-wing cross was deflected up in the air, and the ball fell neatly into the path of Salkeld who headed past Sergent from six yards to seal victory for Daisy.

Daisy are back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Uppermill in the first round of the Edward Case Cup.