Match Report

Trafford made it two wins in four days with a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Stafford Rangers at the Away Day Care ShaweView Stadium on Saturday.

Manager Tom Baker fielded the same starting eleven that had performed so heroically in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Lower Breck and they made a bright and confident start on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

Despite monopolising possession, the hosts had to wait until the 19th minute for their first attempt on goal, Charlie Frost heading an Izac Khan cross goal wards that Rangers keeper Scott Moloney held at the second attempt.

The game was a contrast in styles with Trafford attempting to play neat possession football whilst their opponents relied on long balls out of defence and the massive long throws of centre back Jimmy O’Neill.

Baker’s Boys were desperately unlucky not to take the lead in the 34th minute when Kyle Worsley struck a thunderous drive from 25 yards that cannoned back into play off the crossbar with Moloney saving brilliantly as James Butterworth tried to force home the rebound.

And from the resultant corner, Rangers were fortunate once more when Ollie Southern saw his header clip the crossbar and fly over.

The visitors were a little more adventurous in the second half and in the 53rd minute Dylan Scott fired a first time shot wide from just eight yards before home keeper Harvey Bardsleypushed a Marsel Tola volley from 25 yards past his left hand upright.

Moloney tipped a 20 yard dive by Charlie Frost over the crossbar and then a goal bound header by skipper Harry Norris was cleared off the line by Rangers defender Luke Edwards.

Kyle Worsley looked a constant threat on the right flank for the hosts and in the 79th minute the deadlock was finally broken when his corner from the right was headed in at the back post by Norris.

Four minutes later the home fans were stunned when Rangers forced the equaliser, slack marking at another corner resulting in Matthew Hearsey heading past Bardsley from just seven yards.

Things could have been even worse for Trafford when, in the 85th minute, John Atherton was clean through but, with only Bardsley to beat, he fired hopelessly wide of the right hand post.

Trafford substitute Bile Ahmed made several piercing runs down the left wing as the hosts pushed forward in search of the winner and they were rewarded for their enterprise in the 89th minute when Ahmed coolly fed Charlie Frost who crashed the ball home from just six yards.

Referee Matthew Friend signalled five minutes of time-added-on but Baker’s Boys held on comfortably to their lead, led by a towering performance by skipper Norris, and this win moved his team into third from bottom place in the NPL West Division still five points from safety.

However, Trafford now face three tremendously difficult games, visiting in-form Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday, before entertaining Runcorn Linnets on Good Friday and travelling to Avro on Easter Monday.