RELEGATION favourites Salford fought bravely for their engage Super League lives against a weakened St Helens at The Willows last night.

The Reds, needing to win at least two of their last four matches were ahead until half-way through the second half.

John Wilshere's second and Salford's third try set up a thrilling finale but two moments of magic from Keiron Cunningham and a late Ade Gardner try swung it for Saints.

Three games now remain and it does look as if a minor miracle is now needed to keep the Reds up although Hull KR were beaten 34-18 at Leeds to give them a possible lifeline.

There was little sign of an upset when Mike Bennett and Lee Gilmour combined to get winger Ade Gardner over for the game's first try after only four minutes.

Teenager Stephen Tyer made it 6-0 with the conversion but Salford's response was swift and emphatic.

Virtually every player handled the ball as it was spun from side to side before second rower Stuart Littler finished off the bewildering movement with a brilliant try.

John Wilshere added the conversion and Salford, who had left out Andy Coley, almost scored again when full-back Karl Fitzpatrick, making his comeback from an eight-month injury lay-off, stretched out for the line only to be hauled back by full-back Matt Gidley.

It was then against the run of play when Saints regained their lead on 21 minutes, Gidley forcing his way over from acting half-back after Francis Meli had gone close straight from a scrum.

There was a touch of anxiety about Salford's play, not surprising given their perilous position, but there was no doubting their passion and determination.

And they received a helping hand five minutes before the break when St Helens prop James Graham popped up an inviting pass for Wilshere to run unopposed for a 40-yard interception try.

His second goal levelled the scores for a second time and it stayed that way after Saints half-back James Roby dropped the ball over the line on the stroke of half-time.

A couple of uncharacteristic handling errors from the visitors enabled Salford to maintain the momentum they had built up in the first half and they hit the lead for the first time on 49 minutes thanks to a penalty goal from Wilshere. But Salford were then hit by a double whammy when Graham and Cunningham went over leaving their season again on the edge.

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