Match Report

Trafford manager Karl Marginson drafted in three new players for their debuts on Saturday in his bid to move up the NPL West Division table but despite all three making impressive starts, his side fell to a 4-2 defeat against a physically superior Kidsgrove outfit.

The visitors made a disastrous start to the game when, after just ninety seconds, Grove were awarded a free kick 20 yards out and George Cooper’s shot struck the Trafford defensive wall before deflecting into the bottom left hand corner.

Cooper then volleyed inches wide but Trafford gradually settled with Taylor Dyson and Alex Bowker dominating the midfield in Marginson’s new look 4-4-2 formation.

Debutant left back Ben Horne made several telling runs down his flank but with wingers Josh Wood and Campbell Reid both relatively ineffective, Trafford were unable to carve out any openings of note.

In fact, Trafford’s only attempt on goal in that first half was a tame shot from 20 yards by Matt Davies that was comfortably held by Ryan Brown.

At the other end, Sam Booth made a brave block to thwart Travis Cape and then saved a long range effort by Jay Ford.

Harry Norris volleyed wide as Trafford made a bright start to the second half but in the 55thminute they fell further behind when they only half cleared a cross from the left and Grove skipper Jack Bromfield blasted a great drive through the packed penalty area and into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later the points were as good as sealed for the hosts when Ben Horne slipped in attempting to clear and Grove substitute Alex Barnett advanced to clip the ball nonchalantly over the advancing Sam Booth.

A glancing header by Grove’s giant striker Isaac Phillips was brilliantly saved by Sam Booth but in the 79th minute Phillips created the fourth goal when he headed a free kick across the face of the Trafford goal and Oliver Finney arrived to tuck the ball home from ten yards.

To their credit Trafford refused to buckle and just a minute later Mackena Bradshaw fed Sean Higgins who rifled his shot past Brown from 15 yards.

And in the 89th minute Bradshaw was the architect once more when he broke down the left and pulled the ball back to Matt Davies who coolly placed his shot inside the far post to make it 4-2.

Despite this spirited performance, Trafford still occupy the bottom spot in the NPL West Division, eight points behind Wythenshawe Town and they will be desperate for three points on Saturday when they entertain Shifnal Town at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.