Competition: Northern Premier League West

Trafford FC vs Nantwich Town

Ten- man Trafford tumbled to yet another single goal defeat to leave them stranded at the foot of the NPL West Division table.

Nantwich dominated the opening stages but it was the home side that created the first chance of note, Kieron Molloy stretching to volley just wide in the 14th minute.

Town full back Aidan Roxburgh fired past the upright from fully 40 yards following a weak clearance by Sam Booth who immediately redeemed himself with a fine fingertip save to push a Pat Kennedy header over the crossbar.

Town keeper Ben Garratt saved bravely to thwart Josh Wood in the 36th minute and Sam Booth produced another good save to keep out a header by Town’s giant striker Byron Harrison.

The game erupted in the 44th minute when Kieron Molloy was sent off for appearing to strike a Town defender although the referee’s action was perhaps influenced by the theatricals of the stricken player.

A medical emergency in the crowd led to a lengthy delay and to compound Trafford’s misery, in the 10th minute of time-added-on, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Sam Booth was harshly adjudged to have brought down Harrison. The striker composed himself and sent the resultant spot kick sweetly into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 at the break.

As a spectacle, the second half was desperately disappointing with Nantwich content to just retain possession.

There was very little goalmouth action at either end, the highlights being a last ditch clearance by Harry Norris following a Roxburgh cross from the right and a header by Town substitute Callum Saunders that was cleared off the line by Jordan Fagbola.

Trafford manager Karl Marginson utilised all five substitutes in an attempt to get back on level terms but despite their best efforts they were unable to create any goal-scoring opportunities and so fell to their eighth defeat of the season by just one goal.

On Saturday Trafford travel to play Kidsgrove Athletic in a NPL West Division fixture kicking off at 3 p.m.

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Lower Breck vs Trafford FC

Trafford produced a spirited display at high flying Lower Breck on Wednesday night but fell to a 2-0 defeat that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the NPL West Division table.

Karl Marginson’s team acquitted themselves admirably on a difficult artificial playing surface in spartan surroundings but were clearly up against it against a team well accustomed to the conditions.

In the 6th minute Breck’s lightning fast winger Alex Cherera cut in from the right and fired over and shortly afterwards he sped past two Trafford defenders and struck a fierce low drive that Sam Booth pushed behind.

In the 25th minute Taylor Dyson, returning to the Trafford side after a short spell with Hyde United, curled a 25 yard free kick just wide, but the visitors were finding it difficult to break down the home defence, despite some sterling work by lone striker Matt Davies.

In the 31st minute Harry McGee spurned a great chance for Breck when he skied his shot well over following another mesmerising run by Cherera and the heroic Trafford defence was finally breached five minutes before the interval when Sam Burns controlled neatly 15 yards out and fired into the bottom corner.

The visitor’s plight was further hampered by an injury to Kieron Molloy just before half-time with Kingston Fligg replacing the club’s leading goal-scorer.

Josh Wood replaced a hobbling Harry Winstanley and manager Marginson made two further tactical substitutions with the introduction of Cian Donohue and Henry Brown.

Sam Booth produced another fine save to thwart Cherera but the changes to the Trafford line-up injected more pace into their game and in the 71st minute a great run by Josh Woods ended with Henry Brown firing in a low cross that Breck defender Frazer Cookson almost turned past his own keeper.

Cherera continued to torment the Trafford defence with his great pace and skill but thankfully his finishing was rather wasteful, and in another quick break by the visitors in the 78th minute Cian Donohue was desperately unlucky to see his drive from 20 yards rebound back into play off the foot of the post.

Two minutes later Breck struck again when the ball was played in from the left and Tom Croughan coolly and clinically poked it beyond Booth and into the bottom corner.

This defeat leaves Trafford four points adrift at the foot of the NPL West Division table and makes Saturday’s home game against Nantwich Town absolutely vital as they battle for survival.

 

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Mossley vs Trafford FC

Trafford missed a penalty and squandered several gilt edged chances as they were held to a 1-1 draw in their NPL West Division fixture at Mossley on Saturday.

The hosts edged the opening stages with Trafford centre back Jordan Fagbola making a fine goal-line clearance following a Gee Baltazar shot in the 12th minute and Sean Kgwakgwacracking a 20 yard effort straight at Sam Booth shortly afterwards.

A cross by Mackena Bradhsaw was headed goalwards by Kieron Molloy in Trafford’s first meaningful attack in the 33rd minute, Fin Madigan saving at full length to deny the Trafford forward, and three minutes later the home fans were stunned when Trafford mounted an attack down the left, the ball was switched inside to Sean Higgins who struck a fine drive past Madigan and inside the far post.

This was fitting reward for the Trafford captain on his 100thappearance for the club.

Four minutes into the second half Kieron Molloy missed a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 when he shot straight at Madigan from just ten yards with the goal at his mercy whilst at the other end a Mason Fawns volley from 20 yards flew just over.

Sam Booth produced a fine save to thwart Gee Baltazar in the 66th minute but just a minute later Trafford were wasteful once more when Campbell Reid broke through on the left but delayed his shot and allowed Madigan to block.

In the 69th minute Trafford were punished for their profligacy when Mossley equalised with a quite stunning goal, Isaac Graham cracking a first time thunderbolt from fully 25 yards past Sam Booth and into the top corner.

Jack Higginbottom headed just wide as Trafford fought to restore their lead and in the 78thminute substitute Tom Lawrence wasted another good chance when he delayed his shot from just ten yards and was crowded out.

Five minutes later Trafford had another golden opportunity to secure all three points when Campbell Reid was upended in the Mossley penalty area but Kingston Fligg saw his weak spot kick pushed to safety by Madigan.

The final minutes belonged to the hosts and deep into injury they created two good chances, Sam Booth producing a brilliant save to keep out a header by Fawns who then volleyed just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Trafford manager Karl Marginson was disappointed to collect just one point from the game due to his teams wastefulness but must now look forward to Wednesday night’s clash with high flying Lower Breck on Merseyside before they play hosts to Nantwich Town on Saturday.

 

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Trafford FC vs Bury FC

Trafford produced a superb defensive display against non-league aristocrats Bury on Tuesday night in front of a bumper attendance of 1176 but were beaten by a 48th minute penalty by Kieran Glynn.

The visitors were on top for much of the game but created few chances as skipper Harry Norris and Jordan Fagbola were magnificent in the centre of the home defence.

Sam Booth saved bravely to thwart Gavin Massey in the 25thminute and then Gabriel Johnson fired wastefully over following a rare slip by Norris.

Quicksilver winger Kai Evans cut in from the right and shot past the near post from 20 yards whilst Trafford’s only glimpse at goal in the first half came when Cian Donohue stormed forward but was crowded out by the Bury defence.

Three minutes into the second half, disaster struck for Karl Marginson’s team when right back Kieron Jones tripped Massey as he broke into the Trafford penalty area and Kieran Glynn cracked the resultant spot kick just inside Sam Booth’s right hand post.

Three minutes later Kieron Molloy bore down on the Bury goal but wasted a good goal scoring opportunity by blasting the ball over.

At the other end danger man Evans broke clear of the Trafford defence in the 57th minute but Sam Booth left his line to produce another fine save.

In the 61st minute Trafford created their best chance of the game when the ball fell to Cian Donohue just ten yards out but his snapshot was struck straight at Mitch Allen who saved with his feet.

Manager Marginson rang the changes once more, introducing all five substitutes to the action, but, apart from some long throws by Mackena Bradshaw, the Bury defence remained untroubled.

And it was Bury who went closest to scoring in the closing stages when centre back Louis Isherwood headed against the crossbar following a cross from the left.

Trafford now face two tough away fixtures, visiting Mossleyon Saturday and league leaders Lower Breck on Wednesday night, and they will be desperate for points in their battle to move up the league table.

 

 

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Trafford FC vs Sporting Khalsa

Trafford ended their winless start to NPL West Division season with a resounding 4-1 victory over Midlands based Sporting Khalsa at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Saturday.

Karl Marginson’s side should have taken the lead in the first minute but Campbell Reid failed to react when the ball fell to him at the back post just four yards from goal.

Despite the presence of Storm Amy, both sides provided great entertainment for a sparse crowd of 157 and in the 19th minute Cian Donohue threatened to break clear but was denied by a brilliant last ditch tackle by Jack Fletcher.

From the resultant corner, Harry Winstanley headed over at the back post.

Kieron Molloy made several great runs down the right flank but was let down by his final pass. However, he made amends for his wastefulness in the 24th minute when he swung a corner over that Khalsa keeper R’avan Constable mistimed and could only help the ball into his own goal.

Campbell Reid headed agonisingly wide following a sweeping cross by Brad Byrne and then a piercing run by Molloy ended with a good save by Constable.

In the 34th minute Trafford striker Matt Davies was forced to leave the field with a thigh injury and his replacement Tom Lawrence was quickly into the action when his back post header was saved by Constable.

On the stroke of half-time Trafford doubled their lead when Campbell Reid broke down the left and flighted a glorious cross to the near post that Tom Lawrence neatly headed over the Khalsa keeper and inside the far post.

Seven minutes into the second half the hosts struck again when Molloy and Reid linked on the right, the ball was switched inside to Jack Higginbottom who struck a rasping first time drive past Constable and into the roof of the net.

Andre Landell struck the foot of the post as Khalsa attempted to claw their way back into the game and the introduction of four substitutes by Trafford appeared to affect their side’s rhythm.

Jack Fletcher struck a shot from close range that struck Landell and flew over and in the 75thminute the visitors were rewarded for their enterprise when Landell fired a low drive from 20 yards that flew into the bottom corner.

Despite this setback, Trafford keeper Sam Booth remained untroubled for the remainder of the game and in the 88th minute Trafford substitute Kingston Fligg tenaciously won two challenges out on the right and crossed for Tom Lawrence to net simply from 15 yards and complete the scoring.

Trafford are still rooted to the bottom of the league on four points but will be hoping that this victory will signal the start of a good run for the club, although they now face the daunting task of entertaining league favourites Bury on Tuesday, kick off 7-45 p.m.

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Witton Albion vs Trafford FC

Trafford collected their first point of the season on Tuesday night when they drew 1-1 in a highly entertaining game at Witton Albion.

Karl Marginson’s side were in the ascendancy in the opening minutes with Matt Davies twice firing in shots that flew just wide and Jerome Wright striking a free kick from 20 yards that took a deflection and was saved by Cameron Terry.

Visiting keeper Sam Booth then saved superbly to block a thunderous drive by Max Harropand in the 24th minute Albion striker Tom Hoyle broke clear down the middle but shot past the left hand upright.

Three minutes later Booth was in action once more, brilliantly blocking a Freddy Garbutt shot from point blank range following a cross from the right.

Brad Byrne struck another fierce effort from fully 30 yards that was parried by Terry with Cian Donohue following up but heading the rebound over.

Witton dominated the opening exchanges in the second half but Trafford were playing with plenty of spirit and enterprise and in the 52nd minute a Jerome Wright cross was headed just wide by Henry Brown.

Brown went close again when he nudged the ball wide from close range but the deadlock was finally broken on the hour when Kieron Molloy broke down the left, crashed a low drive that Terry could only parry and Matt Davies followed up to fire home from 12 yards.

In the 71st minute left back Wright was forced to leave the field with a niggling injury and within two minutes of his departure Albion levelled, Hoyle crossing from the right and substitute Joe Duckworth volleying home at the back post.

Albion full back James Baillie blazed over as Albion sought a winner and in the 82nd minute Sam Booth produced another great save to push a Tom Farrall header to safety.

Despite this late pressure, the Trafford defence, led by the outstanding Harry Norris and Jordan Fagbola, held firm, enabling Marginson’s Men to secure their first point in this their ninth league game.

And they will be hoping that this will provide the platform for a much-needed victory on Saturday when they entertain Sporting Khalsa at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.

Then on Tuesday night Trafford play host to Bury FC in an ALL TICKET match kicking off at 7-45 p.m.

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