Competition: FA Cup

Trafford FC vs Campion AFC

Trafford cruised through to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over a spirited Campion side at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Saturday.

For the second week in succession, Karl Marginson’s side made a whirlwind start, taking the lead after just four minutes when Jerome Wright found Hilal Khan with a glorious diagonal pass, Khan advancing to coolly place the ball past Luke Wilson.

Josh Wood then fired over as Trafford sought a second but just as in the last two games, the hosts took their foot off the gas and allowed Campion back into the game.

Visiting striker Pat Sykes shot straight at Ollie Culkin and Jack Normanton squandered a chance on the half hour mark when he fired over from 15 yards.

In the 38th minute, however, Trafford’s quicksilver winger Kieron Molloy sped down the left and curled a superb cross into the path of Matt Davies who volleyed over from just eight yards.

Sykes again shot wastefully at Culkin two minutes into the second half but three minutes later Trafford struck again when Hilal Khan blasted a wickedly dipping free kick from 30 yards that keeper Wilson fumbled and Kieron Molloy followed up to tap home.

The hosts were now completely in control and in the 56th minute put the tie to bed when Josh Wood broke down the right and crossed for Matt Davies to net at the back post and make it 3-0.

The remainder of the game saw Trafford create chance after chance as they poured forward in search of more goals.

Wilson denied substitute Harrison Bickerton, Matt Davies’ shot from 10 yards was deflected wide and Ben Woods should have scored but was thwarted by a last gasp block on the goal-line.

Campbell Reid squandered a great chance to make it four but Wilson again saved brilliantly, and in an almighty goalmouth scramble in the 87th minute, Reid hit the foot of the post, Fligg saw his effort blocked and Henry Brown blasted his shot against a defender.

Despite these missed opportunities Trafford were delighted with a victory against a previously unbeaten side and they can now look forward to Monday’s draw with added confidence.

Due to a 1-1 draw in the tie between Stalybridge Celtic and Bury, Trafford’s league fixture scheduled for Tuesday against the former will now be played at a later date.

This means that Trafford’s next game is on Friday night at Runcorn Linnets, kick off 7-45 p.m., before they entertain Wythenshawe Town on Bank Holiday Monday, kick off 3 p.m.   

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Trafford FC vs Barnoldswick Town

Trafford edged through to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over North West Counties League outfit Barnoldswick Town.

It was all Trafford in the opening stages and they took the lead in the 20th minute when Cian Donohue won the ball off Town defender Ethan Gough and curled a low shot inside the far post.

Three minutes later the hosts were stunned when, in virtually their first attack of the game, Town striker Kuda Chingwaro broke clear and slipped the ball past Ollie Culkin to make it 1-1.

Cian Donohue headed just over on the half hour mark but neither goalkeeper was troubled for the remainder of the first half.

Brad Byrne fired straight at Town keeper James Catlow five minutes into the second half but Trafford’s play became scrappy and disjointed and manager Karl Marginson introduced substitutes Hilal Khan, Campbell Reid, Kingston Fligg and Kieron Molloy in an attempt to inject greater urgency and pace into his side.

And this move paid dividends almost immediately when, in the 72nd minute, Khan floated a free kick in from the right, skipper Harry Norris headed across the face of the goal, and Reid pounced to tap the ball home from four yards.

Reid almost struck again shortly afterwards but just failed to force the ball home when Catlow fumbled Fligg’s shot.

Town pushed forward in search of the equaliser in the closing stages and in the 90th minute Trafford keeper Ollie Culkin produced a brilliant save to thwart Connor McAuley from just eight yards.

The final whistle came as a relief to a Trafford side who had been far below their best but were thankfully through to the next round of the FA Cup in which they play the winners of the Northwich Vics v Camion FC tie.

Match Programme

Match Photos

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Matt Davies

Matty joined Trafford in July 2025 previously playing for Charnock Richard &  Prestwich Heys.