Match Report

PRESTWICH HEYS 2 TRAFFORD 1

Trafford were left to rue a host of missed chances as they crashed out of the NWCFL Macron Cup at Prestwich on Saturday.

Manager Tom Baker made seven changes to the team that had won at Barnoldswick in midweek with one eye on Tuesday night’s league encounter with Burscough and Saturday’s blockbuster FA Cup clash with Atherton Collieries.

And after a tentative start they fell behind to the softest of penalties in the 13th minute when Jacob May was harshly adjudged to have tripped Bryson Appleton and Ellis Richardson stepped forward to thrash the resultant spot kick into the roof of the net.

Trafford were looking uncharacteristically lacklustre and lethargic and they fell two behind in the 23rd minute when Abdul Djalo broke clear down the left and coolly clipped the ball past the advancing Matty Cooper.

Ryan Brooke should have reduced the arrears shortly afterwards when he headed against goalkeeper Jack Buckley from point blank range following a left wing corner and the first half came to a close with Hamed Sidibe firing over from 20 yards after a great run down the left flank.

Baker’s Boys showed far greater urgency and intensity in the second half and after Brad Njine had shot across the face of the Heys goal, Ryan Brooke saw his chip from close range saved by Buckley.

It was all Trafford with Dave Worrall’s close range shot being blocked by a Heys defender and then Buckley saving from Sidibe with an outstretched leg.

In the 73rd minute Sidibe atoned for that earlier miss when he struck a crisp right footed volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area and the closing stages saw Trafford storming forward in search of further goals.

Kyle Worsley struck a great curling drive from 25 yards that was brilliantly parried by Buckley with several Trafford players failing to force home the rebound.

Lewis Jacklin then volleyed just wide at the back post and deep into injury time Fin Stanyer fired high and wide from 15 yards after good approach play by Jacklin.

Try as they might Trafford were unable to force the equaliser and so fell to a disappointing defeat at the hands of a hard working Heys side.

However, Baker’s Boys have a chance to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night when they entertain Burscough in a vital league fixture at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 7-45 p.m.