Match Report

After four games in this season’s competition, Trafford’s Emirates FA Cup journey ended on Saturday with a 1-3 defeat at Nantwich Town. The opening minutes were fairly equal as the two teams sounded each other out. The hosts gained the lead on ten minutes when they took a quick free kick in their own half which caught Trafford cold. The resultant move forward saw Nantwich striker Alex Panter receiving a pass from ex-Trafford full back Aidy Roxburgh and slipping the ball past Sam Booth in the Trafford goal.

Trafford did not accept being behind, and their industry got them an equaliser just 11 minutes later. An incisive move through the midfield resulted in Matt Davies hitting a forceful shot from the edge of the box. Nantwich keeper Ben Garratt parried the ball for Trafford’s young midfielder Mackena Bradshaw to strike home the equaliser.

1-1 at half time would have been a fair scoreline, but sometimes fortune conspires against Karl Marginson’s team. A few minutes from the break, after the home side had hit the bar, they went ahead when Trafford’s defence cleared a corner but the ball was sent back into the danger zone. Paddy Kennedy pounced to head Nantwich 2-1 ahead at the interval.

The second half was developing quite well for Trafford as they chased an equaliser. Roared on by their excellent travelling supporters, Margy’s players thought they’d levelled on 49 minutes when Jerome Wright clawed the ball from the left touchline and his cross was headed into his own net by Kennedy. The Ref chalked the goal off as the linesman flagged it had gone out of play. Nine minutes later Nantwich extended their lead to 3-1 when Alex Panter scored his second of the game.

The last half hour was somewhat arduous from Trafford as they chased an increasingly lost-looking cause. Manager Karl Marginson used his full five substitutions to try and find a breakthrough, but sadly the sparks were not there and this season’s FA Cup campaign ended after four minutes of injury time in Nantwich. Focus now turns to the League this Tuesday evening as Stalybridge Celtic visit the Away Day Care Shawe View, kick off 7.45pm