Will Aimson scored a spectacular long-range goal as top-of-the-league Salford battled to a 2-1 win over in-form Exeter.

The 32-year-old centre-back opened his Salford account in style two minutes from time after Luke Garbutt had cancelled out Sonny Cox’s first-half opener for the Grecians.

Exeter, unbeaten in their previous five League Two matches, created the first noteworthy opening after 20 minutes when Salford goalkeeper Will Norris brought down attacker Cox outside the box.

Norris, who escaped with a booking, comfortably held onto Luca Woodhouse’s tame strike from the resulting free-kick.

The visitors continued to prove and broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Cox squeezed a low shot past Norris.

Exeter comfortably contained Salford for long periods of the contest but the hosts’ quality told after 65 minutes when Garbutt bundled home Macaulay Langstaff’s low centre.

Salford midfielder Brendan Weirdu forced goalkeeper Jack Bycroft into a routine save with a curling shot, before Exeter fullback Lakyle Samuel rifled a fierce long-range shot wide as both sides chased a winning goal in the closing stages.

With time running out, Amison fired a shot into the left corner to extend Salford’s winning run in League Two to eight games.