FA Cup | Trafford FC

After four games in this season’s competition, Trafford’s Emirates FA Cup journey ended on Saturday with a 1-3 defeat at Nantwich Town. The opening minutes were fairly equal as the two teams sounded each other out. The hosts gained the lead on ten minutes when they took a quick free kick in their own half which caught Trafford cold. The resultant move forward saw Nantwich striker Alex Panter receiving a pass from ex-Trafford full back Aidy Roxburgh and slipping the ball past Sam Booth in the Trafford goal.

Trafford did not accept being behind, and their industry got them an equaliser just 11 minutes later. An incisive move through the midfield resulted in Matt Davies hitting a forceful shot from the edge of the box. Nantwich keeper Ben Garratt parried the ball for Trafford’s young midfielder Mackena Bradshaw to strike home the equaliser.

1-1 at half time would have been a fair scoreline, but sometimes fortune conspires against Karl Marginson’s team. A few minutes from the break, after the home side had hit the bar, they went ahead when Trafford’s defence cleared a corner but the ball was sent back into the danger zone. Paddy Kennedy pounced to head Nantwich 2-1 ahead at the interval.

The second half was developing quite well for Trafford as they chased an equaliser. Roared on by their excellent travelling supporters, Margy’s players thought they’d levelled on 49 minutes when Jerome Wright clawed the ball from the left touchline and his cross was headed into his own net by Kennedy. The Ref chalked the goal off as the linesman flagged it had gone out of play. Nine minutes later Nantwich extended their lead to 3-1 when Alex Panter scored his second of the game.

The last half hour was somewhat arduous from Trafford as they chased an increasingly lost-looking cause. Manager Karl Marginson used his full five substitutions to try and find a breakthrough, but sadly the sparks were not there and this season’s FA Cup campaign ended after four minutes of injury time in Nantwich. Focus now turns to the League this Tuesday evening as Stalybridge Celtic visit the Away Day Care Shawe View, kick off 7.45pm

Kingston Fligg struck an injury time winner to shock NPL Premier Division outfit Stockton Town and earn Trafford a place in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.

Both teams played on the front foot throughout in what was a superb advert for non-league football and after just three minutes Trafford’s young forward Campbell Reid flashed a low pass across the face of the Town goal with no one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

At the other end, a 25 yard free kick by Kevin Hayes was pushed past the post by home keeper Sam Booth before disaster struck for the hosts in the 28th minute when Trafford skipper Harry Norris under-hit a pass back to Booth and Amar Purewal pounced to guide the ball into the vacant goal.

Four minutes later Trafford should have equalised when Hilal Khan released Ben Woods with a sublime through ball but visiting keeper Harry Christy came out to block.

In the 37th minute Purewal almost made it two but thankfully poked his shot wide with just Booth to beat.

Danger-man Purewal continued to threaten the home defence in the opening stages of the second half, having a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside in the 51st minute and then breaking down the left and firing past the near post.

Campbell Reid squandered a great chance in the 59th minute when he skipped inside Arjun Purewal but saw his effort blocked at point blank range by Christy.

In the 66th minute Trafford were finally rewarded for their endeavour with a brilliantly worked goal, Mackena Bradshaw blasting a fine shot into the roof of the net after a deft flick by Matt Davies.

Both teams were now totally committed to attack in what was turning out to be an FA Cup classic and after Trafford substitute Josh Wood saw his goal-bound shot cleared off the Town goal-line, Kevin Hayes volleyed over from just 10 yards.

In the third minute of ‘time-added-on’ Trafford were awarded a corner out on the right. Town only half-cleared the danger , Jerome Wright floated a cross beyond the far post and when Jordan Fagbola headed the ball across the face of the Town goal, Kingston Fligg pounced to tap home from just two yards.

Matt Davies wasted a glorious chance to make it 3-1 when he was clean through but over-ran the ball allowing Christy to block. Seconds later the final whistle arrived to signal a momentous victory for Karl Marginson’s young side who had shown tremendous energy, determination, passion and skill throughout the game.

On Saturday, Trafford are in cup action once more when they travel to play Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Trophy kick off 3 p.m.