Salford boss Neil Wood was proud of his side after their 2-0 victory over Football League basement boys Sutton.

The Ammies recorded successive League Two wins for the first time this season thanks to second-half goals from Matt Smith and Kelly N’Mai.

It has been a much-needed resurgence after a dismal run of five consecutive league losses.

“I thought we were outstanding tonight,” said Wood. “The first half was excellent.

“We controlled the game, we tidied up the game when we needed to.

“There was a worry when we didn’t score in the first half. Sometimes you dominate and when you’ve hit the post twice you always wonder if it’s going to come back to bite you.

“It was important to get that first goal and it was a great individual goal from Kelly for the second.

“It is a relief in a way because you pick up wins and you’re out of that run of not winning games.

“But we’re always confident, we’re always working in the background.

“These players are capable and they’ve shown that again tonight by backing up from the weekend.

“They can do it and they need to build on that. We’ve got another game on Saturday and we need to take the confidence from the last two games into that.”

Matt Gray’s U’s are still searching for a first league win since the opening day.

And after Tranmere’s win over Bradford, Sutton already sit five points off safety.

Sutton boss Gray said: “I’m very frustrated because the first goal is always big in any game and especially in the situation we’re in at the moment it’s really important.

“To concede from a corner is really disappointing because it was an even first half. They had a couple of moments, but so did we.

“There were some good bits from us and it felt like a tight and even game.

“We’re very, very competitive in spells but not for the 90 minutes and that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in.

“It’s hard to take because you have to take your moments with the pressure we’ve had.

“It’s poor defending and letting them score from the corner is disappointing.

“We had three really good chances at the end and unfortunately we couldn’t take one of those chances at the death.

“There’s a lot to work on, that’s obvious. But that desire, work ethic and will to get a win is there. That’s a huge plus and we just have to keep working.

“We’re desperate to get this win to get us going.”

Leeds boss Daniel Farke was unhappy with the retaken decisive spot-kick as Leeds suffered a dramatic 9-8 penalty shoot-out loss to Salford in the Carabao Cup.

Ossama Ashley scored at the second attempt after Karl Darlow had saved an initial effort only to be yellow-carded for moving off his line.

Farke said: “It was the only penalty to be retaken, but I can’t change the referee’s decision.”

Despite Leeds’ almost total dominance, the Ammies led at the break thanks to ex-Elland Road striker Matt Smith’s header.

Leeds skipper Pascal Struijk levelled it up with 14 minutes left, but they could not find a winner and Georginio Rutter and Jamie Shackleton missed as every outfield player stepped up in the shoot-out.

Farke said: “It’s disappointing, but we have to accept the loss.

“We hit the bar and the post, and had numerous chances to put the ball in the net, but we didn’t and we must improve on that.

“It’s not for me to punish or accuse anyone after going out of this competition – it’s just been one of those days.”

Salford boss Neil Wood has urged his players to take confidence from their latest scalp.

After beating Preston on penalties in the first round, the League Two Ammies went the distance again.

Wood said: “We really had to work hard, particularly defensively, so huge credit to the lads for that.

“There were moments when we had to defend for our lives, then once it goes to penalties, it really could go either way.

“We’ve been there before, so the lads know they’ve just got to keep their focus and hope for that little bit of luck.

“We got that, we’re through, but we’ve earned the right to be in the third-round draw.

“It’s great to test yourselves against sides from the Championship, so the lads need to take huge confidence from this victory.”

League Two Salford stunned Championship big guns Leeds with a thrilling 9-8 penalty shoot-out victory after their EFL Cup clash ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Jamie Shackleton missed Leeds’ vital sudden-death spot-kick when he thumped the bar, after which Salford’s Ossama Ashley notched the winning kick – dramatically at the second attempt after Karl Darlow had moved off his line to save the first.

As expected, with 46 league places between the two teams and visiting boss Daniel Farke going with a strong starting line-up, Leeds bossed the opening half-hour at the Peninsula Stadium.

Crysencio Summerville saw a free-kick saved by Alex Cairns, while Willy Gnonto was denied by Liam Shephard’s smart block.

The woodwork saved Salford when Summerville turned past Stevie Mallan before curling a shot against a post.

Despite Leeds’ dominance, it was Salford who broke the deadlock after 34 minutes. Ex-Leeds youth prospect Luke Garbutt crossed in for former Elland Road striker Matt Smith and he headed powerfully past a stunned Darlow.

Leeds piled the pressure on after the restart. Skipper Pascal Struijk headed straight at Cairns, while Summerville forced the Ammies keeper into another superb save.

Leeds finally struck in the 76th minute. Struijk bundled home from close range after sub Sam Greenwood’s free-kick was not cleared by the Ammies’ overworked defence.

The brilliant Cairns later denied £36m man Georginio Rutter, then Greenwood thumped the bar, meaning the game was to be settled in a shoot-out. Rutter and Connor McLennan also failed to score as all 20 outfield players had to step up.

Jamaican defender Adrian Mariappa has signed a short-term deal with Football League Two side Salford City FC.

The 36-year-old centre-back has had a distinguished career in the upper levels of the English pyramid, with over 150 Premier League appearances and more than 200 in the Championship.

He is best known for his time at Watford where he had made 340 appearances across two spells, and he has also featured for Crystal Palace, Reading and Bristol City.

More recently he had a spell in Australia with Macarthur FC, and earlier this season made 12 appearances for Burton Albion in League One on a short-term deal.

The two-time FA Cup finalist has also made over 60 appearances for Jamaica in international football.

He is currently with The Reggae Boyz preparing for their CONCACAF Nations League game against Mexico on Sunday and will link up with the Salford City squad next week after his return.