Competition: Northern Premier League West

Atherton Colleries vs Trafford FC

Trafford fell to their eighth successive league defeat at Atherton on Saturday and remain firmly rooted at the foot of the NPL West Division table.

Despite their malaise, Karl Marginson’s side started the game confidently with Kieron Molloy flashing the ball across the face of the Colls goal in the opening minutes.

However, chances were few and far between as both defences dominated, although Molloy went close again in the 31st minute when his shot at the back post was bundled behind by Colls keeper Jack Dallimore.

And from the resultant corner by Ben Woods, skipper Harry Norris headed agonisingly wide from just six yards.

The first half appeared to be heading goal-less when, in the second minute of time-added-on, Colls winger Chinedu Uche cut in from the right and crossed for Sonny Reeves to volley sweetly past Sam Booth from ten yards.

This was incredibly cruel on a Trafford side that had shaded the first half in terms of possession and had played with a confidence and compactness that had been missing in recent weeks.

Unfortunately Trafford were unable to replicate their performance in the second half and Colls almost doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when Uche cut in from the right and rifled a drive into the side-netting.

Sonny Reeves then cracked a shot inches over from the left side of the Trafford penalty area and manager Marginson attempted to rejuvenate his team with a triple substitution, Campbell Reid, Henry Brown and Kingston Fligg all joining the action.

Uche went close again in the 76th minute but was thwarted by a neat save by Booth and just a minute later Trafford created their best chance of the game when the ball fell invitingly to Fligg just 15 yards out but he crashed his shot wide of the far post.

Trafford pushed forward in vain in the dying minutes but were unable to break down the superbly organised Colls defence and the final whistle signalled another agonising single goal defeat for Marginson’s team, their sixth of the eight losses.

The Boys from Shawe View now move on to Wincham Park on Tuesday night when they face Witton Albion in an NPL West Division fixture kicking off at 7-45 p.m.

Can they break their duck and secure their first points of the season?

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Newcastle Town vs Trafford FC

Trafford’s nightmare start to the season continued on Tuesday night when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle Town, leaving them without a win after seven league games.

Both teams conceded possession far too often in a scrappy and disjointed first half although Oliver Ritchie almost gave Town the lead in the 19th minute but was thwarted by a brilliant last ditch block by Brad Byrne.

Ten minutes later Trafford winger Campbell Reid gave the ball away on the half-way line, the hosts broke away and Joel Jones shot from 25 yards took a wicked deflection before looping over visiting keeper Connor Eastham.

Following a half-time roasting by manager Karl Marginson, Trafford came out for the second half with far greater determination and commitment and in the 47th minute a Campbell Reid header was cleared off the goal-line.

Kieran Molloy then cut in from the right but curled his shot wide and at the other end Connor Eastham reacted brilliantly to block a drive by Reuben Falding.

Trafford piled forward in search of the equaliser and in the 76th minute Molloy outpaced the Town defence but was denied by another fine save by Joe Slinn.

Substitute Cian Donohue fired straight at Slinn from the edge of the penalty area and then squandered a great chance when his header from point blank range was directed too close to the impressive Town keeper.

The host’s game management in the closing stages was exemplary as they retained possession with great control and their superbly drilled defence, led by an outstanding performance by centre back Lewis Brown, was relatively untroubled.

Trafford, on the other hand, were left to reflect on yet another damaging defeat and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they travel to play Atherton Collieries, kick off 3 p.m.

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Trafford FC vs Chasetown

Trafford fell to another heart-breaking defeat on Saturday when two goals in the last two minutes gave Chaetown a 3-1 victory and left the hosts winless after six league games.

Following his side’s recent poor run of results, manager Karl Marginson made seven changes to the line-up that were beaten by Stalybridge Celtic in midweek and his team responded by making a confident and bright start to the game.

A Sean Higgins pile-driver was parried by visiting keeper Curtis Pond whilst at the other end, Trafford’s debutant goalkeeper Connor Eastham saved a close range shot by Alex Bradley with his feet.

Pond then saved a low ground shot by Campbell Reid and then held a diving header by Trafford skipper Harry Norris at the second attempt.

In the 39th minute Marginson’s team forged ahead when Matt Davies won the ball out on the right, cut inside and cracked a low drive that deflected off Chasetown defender Jordan Evans and flew past Pond.

Trafford were clearly buoyed by this goal and went in search of a second, Hilal Khan striking a thunderous drive that Pond pushed to safety and Matt Davies firing weakly from 15 yards.

Seven minutes into time-added-on the visitors levelled when Jordan Evans swung a wickedly curling free kick in from the right that evaded everyone and nestled inside the far corner.

Despite this setback, Trafford started the second half confidently with Davies going close once more and Harry Norris heading a corner onto the roof of the net.

A goal-bound volley by Hilal Khan was blocked by a visiting defender and Khan then blasted a great drive from 25 yards that flew inches over the crossbar.

In the 88th minute, disaster struck for the hosts when Chasetown striker Joey Butlin broke down the right with Trafford vainly appealing for offside and rifled a superb ground shot past Eastham and into the far corner.

Two minutes later substitute Tom Thorley made it three when he pounced on a loose ball inside the Trafford penalty area and fired hard and low past the despairing Eastham.

The final whistle signalled a desperately disappointing defeat for a Trafford team who had been in the ascendancy for long spells but had been punished for conceding ‘soft’ goals.

Images by Jon Pidge

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Trafford FC vs Wythenshawe Town

Trafford fell to a disastrous 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Wythenshawe Town on Bank Holiday Monday and remain firmly rooted at the bottom of the NPL West Division table.

The visitors were stronger and more physical throughout and after just seven minutes Dylan Woods cut in from the right and fizzed a shot just wide of the far post.

In the 11th minute Trafford winger Kieron Molloy just failed to connect cleanly with a cross by Jerome Wright and Town immediately broke away down the left, Kayle Power driving the ball across the face of the Trafford goal and Jonny Nixon arriving to slot the ball past Sam Booth from close range to make it 1-0.

Trafford were dealt a further blow in the 18th minute when quicksilver winger Molloy pulled up with a hamstring injury and was immediately replaced by Ryley Smith.

Sam Booth held a low drive by Nixon at full length as Town sought a second goal but as half time approached the hosts began to get on top without seriously threatening their opponents goal.

Trafford skipper Harry Norris fired wide from 25 yards, Matt Davies glanced a free kick inches wide of the near post and then Kingston Fligg flashed a shot over from 25 yards.

Jerome Wright blocked a goal-bound shot in the opening minutes of the second half as Town pressed forward and Trafford began to get on top but again found difficulty in breaking down the visitor’s well-drilled defence.

Trafford manager Karl Marginson introduced all four remaining substitutes in an attempt to force an equaliser but shocking defending in the 74th minute allowed Danny Edwards to fire past Sam Booth from 10 yards and make it 2-0.

Matt Davies turned neatly and flashed a 20 yard drive just past the post in the 76th minute and just a minute later Henry Brown reduced the arrears when he played a great one-two with Ryley Smith and stormed forward to blast the ball past Adam McKerney.

Hilal Khan was unfortunate in the 82nd minute when he curled a brilliant free kick from 20 yards against the Town crossbar and Harry Norris shot wide shortly afterwards as Trafford pushed forward in search of the equaliser.

But the final whistle arrived to signal a deserved victory for a Town side that had shown greater desire and resilience against a Trafford team who are performing well below the standards they set last season.

However, Marginson’s Men can make amends on Saturday when they return to FA Cup action and entertain NPL Premier Division outfit Stockton Town at the Away Day Care ShaweView Stadium in a First Qualifying Round Tie that kicks off at 3 p.m.

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