Match Report

Trafford produced a ponderous and error strewn performance at Cheadle on Saturday and were defeated 2-1 by the North West Counties League outfit.

Karl Marginon’s side were sloppy from the start and Town’s Matt Crawford saw his close range effort blocked by Harry Norris after just five minutes.

Three minutes later Vlad Shthylian squandered a glorious chance when he fired against visiting keeper Ollie Culkin from just six yards whilst at the other end a slick move down the right ended with Kingston Figg finding Matt Davies whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Matt Cook.

Cheadle were in the ascendancy with Sheriff N’Jie breaking clear down the right but screwing his shot past the far post and Darren McKnight seeing his low drive blocked by the Trafford defence.

Culkin saved an N’Jie header four minutes into the second half and then a brilliant run by Trafford substitute Matty Lusakueno that took him past four defenders ended with the quicksilver winger shooting wide of the far post.

The hosts forged ahead in the 61st minute when Josh Wood mistimed a clearance and the ball was played in to Sheriff N’Jie who tapped home from two yards but six minutes later Trafford were level, Matt Davies feeding Kieran Molloy on the right who outpaced the Town defence and blasted a great shot past Kyle Haslam and into the opposite top corner.

Cheadle were unfazed by this equaliser and capitalised on more slack defending by the visitors in the 72nd minute, Ryan Morton gaining possession and cracking a fine shot past Culkin from 15 yards to make it 2-1.

Things could have been even worse for Marginson’s side when Town’s Xavier Llorente cut through the Trafford defence in the closing minutes but was denied by a fine reflex save by substitute keeper Sam Booth.

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