Competition: Friendly

Trafford FC vs Coleshill Town

An entertaining game in the intense heat

Despite the intense heat, both teams produced an entertaining game with a late goal by Jack Donohue settling the outcome.
Trafford manager Karl Marginson started the game with a young line-up, his side containing six players who had graduated from the youth system, and throughout the first half they played some neat possession football whilst Coleshill relied on a more direct approach.
Trafford winger Ryley Smith struck a low shot in the 18th minute that was comfortably held by Cameron Bamford and on the half hour Town striker Daniel Gyasi broke clear but was denied by a brave block by Ollie Culkin.

Bamford saved long range efforts by Cian Donohue and Ben Lowe as half-time approached and at the interval manager Marginson made nine changes to his line-up.

Trafford’s play became a little fragmented and Town pushed forward in search of the opening goal.
Theo Rowe curled a shot just over and Ollie Culkin blocked a shot by Harry Sweeney before being replaced by Sam Booth.
Booth was immediately called in to action, pulling off a brilliant save to thwart Ross Evans and it was slightly against the run of play that Trafford took the lead in the 79th minute when Henry Brown fed Jack Donohue who blasted his shot into the roof of the net from ten yards.

Brad Byrne and Matty Lusakueno both went close to increasing the home side’s lead but the game ended in worrying fashion when Oli Irwin was stretchered off with a nasty looking knee injury in the dying seconds.

Trafford continue their preparations for the new season on Tuesday night when they visit Irlam FC, kick off 7-45 p.m., before travelling to Cheadle Town on Saturday for a 1-30 p.m. kick off.

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Chadderton FC vs Trafford FC

Trafford beaten in disappointing performance

Trafford began their preparations for the forthcoming season with a rather disappointing performance in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of a very impressive Chadderton side.

The hosts were on top from the start with Matty Crothers seeing his low drive well held by Ollie Culkin in the 5th minute and Daniel McLaughliin breaking clear just two minutes later only to be denied by a point blank save by Culkin.

Trafford’s new signing Matt Davies squandered a great chance in the 12th minute when he fired into the side-netting with just goalkeeper Joey Oldham to beat and the visitors appeals for a penalty shortly afterwards, when Davies appeared to be nudged to the ground, fell on deaf ears.

Chadderton took the lead in the 18th minute when a fine move down the left ended with Jack Sloan firing a piercing cross into the Trafford penalty area and Matty Crothers pouncing to crack a superb drive into the top corner from 15 yards.

The hosts were now well on top and should have added to their lead when Matty Barlow, Daniel McLaughlin and a triallist all broke clear but on each occasion Ollie Culkin left his line to block the danger.

And it was completely against the run of play that Trafford levelled just two minutes before the interval, Matt Davies flashing a great cross to the back post where Cian Donohue stooped to head into the bottom corner.

The home side then squandered another glorious chance seconds before the break, Benito Lowe advancing down the left but shooting weakly into Culkin’s hands with the goal at his mercy.

In the 48th minute Crothers struck again to make it 2-1, finding himself in acres of space and rifling a glorious ground shot from 25 yards that nestled in the bottom corner.

The under-fire Culkin then tipped a close range header by Michael Ibeto over the crossbar but was powerless to prevent Benito Lowe from making it 3-1 on the hour when the Chadderton midfielder collected a deep cross from the right, neatly stepped inside Mackenna Bradshaw and cracked a great low shot inside the near post.

Things could have been even worse for Trafford in the closing stages as Reece Taylor dispossessed Jordan Fagbola but shot past the far post and then Culkin carelessly passed the ball to McLaughlin who fired into the side-netting.

Despite this disappointing performance, Trafford can at least reflect on the fact that they gave game-time to 20 players, and, as this was the first of seven pre-season friendlies, things can only get better.

And they will be hoping for a vast improvement on Saturday when they host NPL Midlands Division outfit Coleshill Town at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.

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Matt Davies

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