Match Report

Trafford were defeated 2-1 by National League North side Radcliffe FC on Tuesday night but emerged from a close game with great credit.

As it turned out, the difference between the two sides was former Trafford striker Rio Clegg who scored two late, opportunistic goals, after it appeared for long spells that Karl Marginson’s team would cause a major upset.

The hosts moved the ball around confidently from the start against a side two steps higher up the non-league pyramid and in the 12th minute Ryley Smith’s long range effort took a slight deflection but was held by Mateusz Hewlet.

Josh Wood was a constant threat to the Radcliffe defence and was unfortunate when his low menacing pass across the face of the visitor’s goal evaded everyone.

Regan Riley fizzed a shot just past the far post and a half of little goalmouth action, but plenty of endeavour, ended with Rio Clegg shooting just wide from 25 yards.

Manager Marginson made eight changes to his line-up at half-time and his revamped side produced some scintillating football taking the lead in the 54th minute when Radcliffe failed to clear a Hilal Khan free kick and Mackenna Bradshaw rose to power home a header at the back post.

Trafford continued to play some superbly composed football and in the 63rd minute Kevin Spinelli cut in from the right but curled his shot just over.

With twenty minutes remaining Rio Clegg took centre stage to torment his former team-mates and turn the course of the game.

Sam Booth thwarted Clegg with a brilliant save at point blank range but just two minutes later was powerless to prevent the equaliser, Clegg brilliantly clipping the ball over Jack Higginbottom before poking the ball inside the near post.

Booth made another brilliant save to deny Jon Taylor but in the 81st minute Radcliffe left winger Isaac Modi outpaced Bradshaw and crossed hard and low to the back post where Clegg arrived to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.

Trafford were unable to force an equaliser but can take great heart from an excellent performance that should fill them with confidence ahead of Saturday FA Cup Extra Preliminary Tie against Barnoldswick Town at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium.

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