Hull (18) 34
Tries: Hall 2, Long, Whiting, Tansey, Turner Goals: Tickle 5

Salford (12) 12
Tries: Fitzpatrick, Sidlow Goals: Smith 2

Craig Hall completed his brace with just two minutes left on the clock

Hull cemented their hold on fourth spot as they moved to within six points of the top with victory over Salford.

They led with tries by Craig Hall and Sean Long only for Salford to counter with scores by Karl Fitzpatrick and Adam Sidlow's run-in from 50 metres.

But Richard Whiting went over before half time and Jordan Tansey delivered a dazzling solo effort after the break.

Ex-Salford man Jordan Turner killed off his old team's hopes with his try before Hall grabbed a late second.

Salford stood strong to begin with, riding their luck as Tansey missed an early opportunity to score when he dropped Long's pass.

Things then looked good for the visitors when Hull hooker Danny Houghton was sin-binned for holding down Stuart Littler after four minutes.

But Hull twice scored when they were down to 12 men, Hall going over before Long finished off a move created by Hall and Houghton.

606: DEBATE Another win! Could FC be in contention? Not playing at their best yet & still have a few key players out but a sound performance, Turner & Tansey doing the biz. hullfcclaydee

Salford held their nerve and fought back to level the scores within six minutes.

Fitzpatrick scored first as he finished off a move started by Mark Henry's break.

Sidlow then took Phil Leuluai's neat offload to scamper in from 50 metres out. But, before the interval, Salford's defence was breached again when Whiting crossed in the corner.

Tansey's try came from his break at the base of the scrum as he danced his way around the Reds' covering defence for the score of the evening.

The visitors appeared spent and, when Turner scored, after his dummy opened up a clear run, the contest was over.

Hall then crossed for a second time, his eighth of the season, but Tickle was unable to convert for the first time in the match.

Hull coach Richard Agar:

"We've got to concentrate week by week on our performance and keep everyone fit and healthy and fresh and take every challenge that comes our way.

"We've got 10 games to go and have some tough games to play, but have had some tough trips out of the way. The ball is in our court.

"Four weeks ago everyone had us dropping out of the top eight.

"We've got some tough fixtures over the next month and we need to stay consistent and keep improving and the league table will take care of itself."

Salford coach Shaun McRae:

"We got what we deserved, particularly with the second-half performance. We didn't get enough quality ball.

"After a pretty high-quality first-half performance from both sides, Hull were able to go on but we weren't. Some of the pressure that was built on us showed and they were too strong for us and it showed.

"Tonight we got Hull FC in good form and full of confidence. We didn't control their big players. When we beat them almost three months ago we did that and tonight we couldn't do that."

Hull FC: Berrigan, Burnett, Cusack, Dowes, Fitzgibbon, Hall, Houghton, Lauaki, Long, Manu, Moa, Nicklas, Radford, Tansey, Tickle, Turner, Washbrook, Whiting, Yeaman.

Salford: Fitzpatrick, J Smith, Henry, Talau, Gibson, Adamson, Jewitt, Sidlow, Alker, Broughton, Sibbit, Sneyd, Swain, M Smith, Littler, Leuluai, Tyrer, Holdsworth, Boyle.

Attendance: 11,397.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington).

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