Competition: Northern Premier League West

Clitheroe vs Trafford FC

Trafford slipped to their second defeat in the space of four days on Tuesday when they were defeated 2-1 by Clitheroe at Shawbridge.

A well-worked corner in the 4th minute ended with Ross Dent firing over as the hosts set the early pace and then centre back Bradley Ditch just failed to connect with an in-swinging free kick from the right.

In the 23rd minute Trafford took the lead slightly against the run of play when Matt Davies was fouled just outside the Clitheroe penalty area and Jerome Wright stepped forward to float a wonderful free kick past James McClenaghan and into the top corner.

Within a minute the hosts were level when a low cross from the right was steered home by Leon Creech with the Trafford defence asleep.

Visiting goalkeeper Ollie Culkin then produced two magnificent saves to thwart Parny Veron and Jordan Windass but was powerless to prevent Clitheroe from taking the lead in the 38th minute when substitute Danny Wilkins broke forward and chipped the ball neatly over the advancing keeper.

A thunderbolt from 25 yards by Windass was deflected wide and the first half came to a close with Danny Wilkins firing in a volley that Culkin saved at the foot of the post.

Leon Creech broke clear down the right and blasted over as the hosts sought a third goal but gradually Trafford began to dominate and skipper Harry Norris squandered a great chance in the 54th minute when he half-volleyed wide from ten yards.

Trafford manager Karl Marginson introduced substitutes Hilal Khan and Kingston Fligg to the fray and both performed admirably as the visitors pushed forward in search of the equaliser.

Kieron Molloy whistled an angled drive just wide of the far post but the best chance fell to Matt Davies when a fine move ended with the striker seeing his drive from close range blocked by McClenaghan.

Despite this defeat, Trafford can take heart from their spirited display in the final half hour when they played with a tempo, flair and aggression that had been missing in the first half, and they will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain Campion AFC in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup before hosting Stalybridge Celtic on Tuesday night.

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Trafford FC vs Darlaston Town

Despite taking the lead after just 46 seconds, Trafford fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against a superbly organised Town side in their opening NPL West Division fixture on Saturday.

After the game had been delayed by 15 minutes due to a crash on the M6, and the late arrival of the visitors, Karl Marginson’s team stormed ahead in the first minute when new signing Matt Davies bundled the ball home after great approach work by Ryley Smith and Josh Woods.

In the 16th minute danger-man Davies almost struck again when he broke clear on the right but his shot from 15 yards lacked power and Zac Prior saved comfortably.

Six minutes later the visitors levelled when Trafford only half-cleared a free kick from the right and Harry Chesterton was given time and space to control the ball 20 yards out and curl a fine shot past Ollie Culkin.

In the 34th minute Trafford were dealt a sucker punch when they committed too many players forward at a free kick, allowing Jake Pearson to break clear down the right and sweep the ball across to the far post where Chesterton arrived to plant the ball under Culkin and make it 2-1.

Referee Kendrick was upsetting the home supporters with some strange decisions, none more so than five minutes before the interval when Town centre back Alex Forshaw clearly pushed a cross by Jerome Wright behind for a corner with his hand, Trafford’s screams for a penalty falling on deaf ears.

The second half saw Trafford monopolising possession but failing to create any clear-cut chances although substitute Kingston Fligg broke forward in the 62nd minute and blasted a low drive from 25 yards that Prior pushed behind.

Appeals for another penalty were ignored when Jordan Fagbola headed a free kick into the packed Town penalty area and Matt Davies twice went close as Marginson’s team desperately sought an equaliser.

The game almost finished in sensational fashion when home keeper Culkin ventured forward in the dying seconds for a left wing corner but saw his glancing header agonisingly clip the outside of the near post and fall to safety.

Trafford will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Tuesday when they travel to play Clitheroe but know that it will be another stern test against a side that many are tipping for promotion.

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