Competition: Northern Premier League West

Darlaston Town vs Trafford FC

TRAFFORD FC slid to a 0-1 defeat in a game they really could and should have won. The trip to the West Midlands saw Tom Baker’s team take on Darlaston Town – the hosts being two points ahead of Trafford in the bottom two of the NPL West Division. A victory would have given Trafford the boost of lifting themselves off the bottom at Christmas.

Trafford started brightly, with Kieron Molloy in particular causing Darlaston problems with his pace and trickery on the left. Molloy had Trafford’s first real chance after just 6 minutes, shooting wide from the edge of the box. Moments later he combined with Jack Sloan to give Brad Byrne a chance which produced a fine save from Darlaston ‘keeper Stan Amos. The resultant corner saw Trafford captain Harry Norris head wide.

After this bright opening, the game became bogged down with the muddy conditions and a home side prepared to stick a foot or head in for every loose ball. This did little for the quality of football on display. Goalless at the break, disaster struck just two minutes in to the second half when a Darlaston corner dropped in the 6-yard area. Trafford’s defenders failed to react quick enough, and Calum Knowles poked it home. The scrappy nature of the game continued, and it was difficult to get any momentum going.

Trafford had opportunities – Molloy continued to shine, and his shot on 50 minutes had power, but Amos held it comfortably. Five minutes later Molloy seized upon a poor backpass by Darlaston defender Harry Chesterton and fed Tom Lawless, who’s shot seemed destined for the goal but defender Ashley Carter slid from nowhere to block it with his body.

The last ten minutes saw Trafford frantically pushing for at least an equaliser, but the home side showed resilience in defence. Substitute Taylor Dyson hit a free kick past the post, then three Trafford corners in a row were repelled. Debutant Ian Togo hit the side netting, and Dana Amaral lobbed Amos in injury time only to see his effort bounce away off the underside of the bar.

The defeat leaves Trafford eight points from safety. They entertain Avro FC at home on Boxing Day (kick off 3pm) and Tom Baker will be hoping their performances, which have recently seen big signs of improvement, will start securing regular three points soon….

(Pete McGrath)

Darlaston Town

1 vs 0

Trafford FC

Chasetown vs Trafford FC

Trafford produced another tremendously courageous display on Saturday to earn a vital point in their quest to climb off the bottom of the NPL West Division table.

Tom Baker’s side started confidently and had the ball in the back of the net twice in the opening ten minutes, Sean Higgins rifling a shot inside the far post and then Matt Davies volleying in from ten yards. Unfortunately both goals were ruled out by marginal offside decisions.

In the 16th minute Davies squandered a glorious opportunity to put the visitors ahead when he broke clear down the middle but, with only goalkeeper Curtis Pond to beat, he shot against the left hand upright.

Trafford remained in control and took the lead just two minutes later when Davies cleverly slipped the ball through to Brad Byrne who coolly slotted his shot past the advancing Pond.

Joey Butlin just failed to connect with a left wing cross in the hosts meaningful first attack but disaster struck for Baker’s team in the 34th minute when Chasetown equalised against the run of play, Tom Thorley glancing a header inside the far post following a free kick from the left.

Undaunted by this setback, Trafford continued to play with great composure and Brad Byrne should have done better when his curling shot from just inside the penalty area was held at full length by Curtis Pond.

Whereas Trafford had been the dominant force in that first period, the hosts edged the second period in terms of possession although Sean Higgins wasted a good opportunity for the visitors in the 65th minute when he fired wastefully over from just 15 yards.

Chasetown’s George Cater curled a shot inches wide in the 78th minute but despite mounting attack after attack the home team were unable to trouble a Trafford defence superbly marshalled by skipper Harry Norris, and keeper Sam Booth was not called upon to make a save of any note.

The final whistle signalled an excellent result for Baker’s Boys against a team just outside the play-off places, but they now face an absolutely crucial game on Saturday when they visit next-to-bottom Darlaston Town. However, if they can replicate this performance, they will be confident of earning all three points.

Chasetown

1 vs 1

Trafford FC

Trafford FC vs Witton Albion

An intense, physical encounter ended goal-less with Trafford squandering two late chances to snatch the win they so desperately need.

Witton could have taken the lead after just thirty seconds when Freddy Garbutt pounced on a weak clearance and volleyed against Sam Booth’s right hand upright from 25 yards.

Booth himself then gifted the visitors another golden opportunity with an awful pass inside his own penalty area but redeemed himself with a sharp save from Joe Duckworth.

Trafford gradually settled and skipper Harry Norris glanced a header just over following a right wing corner in the 9th minute.

Home striker Matt Davies then fed his marauding right back Sean Higgins who blasted a fierce low drive that was parried by Cameron Terry.

Brad Byrne’s close range effort was deflected wide after more good work by Higgins and Norris went close once more when his header from another corner flew just past the left hand upright.

Norris then cleared a Joe Duckworth shot off his own goal-line as play swung from end to end and as half time approached, Matt Davies and Dana Amaral both went close for Trafford with shots from 30 yards.

The second half opened with Trafford debutant Harry Leigh, on loan from Bolton Wanderers, firing over from the edge of the penalty area and Harry Norris went close again when he nudged a shot over after another corner.

Sam Booth produced a fine full length save to thwart Tom Hoyle in the 63rd minute and shortly afterwards Trafford’s Kieron Molloy just failed to connect with a near post flick following a long throw from the right.

Skipper Norris was in the thick of the action once more when he cleared off the line after a weak punch by Booth but the closing stages belonged to Trafford as they desperately pushed forward in search of the winner.

Matt Davies agonisingly fired across the face of the Albion goal after cutting in from the right and in the final seconds Harry Norris nodded a corner back across the face of the goal and substitute Tom Lawless’s close range header was brilliantly tipped over by Terry.

A hugely entertaining game played in atrocious conditions came to a close with honours shared and Trafford now face two daunting away games at Chasetown and Darlaston as they fight for survival in the NPL West Division.

Trafford FC

0 vs 0

Witton Albion

Brad Mundy

Scott Sephton

Trafford FC vs Congleton Town

Trafford suffered a late, late heartbreak when a goal by substitute Matthew Gillan in the seventh minute of injury time gave the visitors a share of the points.

Tom Baker’s side started brightly and after just five minutes a cross by Kieron Molloy was volleyed just wide by Sean Higgins.

Congleton’s pacey forward duo Ebou Badjie and Remi Raymond began to cause problems for the home defence and in the 26th minute the latter struck a fierce free kick form 25 yards that was brilliantly pushed past the upright by Sam Booth.

Matt Davies lashed a shot high and wide as Trafford fought for the opener but a defence dominated first half ended with the score goal-less.

Sean Higgins nodded well over as Kieron Molloy made another quick break down the left flank and then Charlie Frost glanced a header just wide in the 50th minute.

Three minutes later Baker’s Boys stormed ahead when Dana Amaral arrived at the back post to head down and into the roof of the net.

Tom Hampton almost snatched an immediate equaliser for Town when he poked a shot against the crossbar from just six yards but Trafford were now on top and pushing forward in search of a second goal.

Matt Davies saw a shot from close range blocked, Brad Byrne fired wide and then Scott Sephton, impressing in the anchor role in midfield, rifled a drive inches over from 25 yards.

In the 72nd minute Matt Davies volleyed agonisingly over following another great run down the left flank by Kieron Molloy and then substitute Prosper Imar looked certain to score but was denied by Town keeper Dave Parton.

Town substitute Harry Motley fizzed a shot just wide of the near post following a quick short corner but three minutes into injury time Dana Amaral wasted another good chance to seal the points when he screwed his shot wide after good approach play by Imar.

With just seconds remaining on the clock, Town launched another long ball into the Trafford penalty area, skipper Harry Norris cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Gillan reacted first to strike a crisp half-volley past Sam Booth and into the bottom left hand corner.

Despite this heart-breaking finale, Trafford can take great heart from a performance full of character, determination and skill, as they dominated the game for long spells and deserved to collect all three points. And with 22 games still remaining in the season, there is still everything to play for.

Trafford FC

1 vs 1

Congleton Town

Bootle vs Trafford FC

Trafford fell to yet another single goal defeat on Saturday, a Jayden Sergeant goal after just four minutes giving the Merseysiders their victory.

Manager Tom Baker made four changes to the team that had been narrowly defeated by Vauxhall Motors the previous week but his side made a nightmare start when Sergeant received a pass from out on the right and, in acres of space, fired past Sam Booth and into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later Matt Davies volleyed wastefully over from 15 yards in the visitors’ first meaningful attack but it was Bootle who were the dominant force with Sam Booth twice saving to thwart Matt Fenton and Jack McGowan.

A rather scrappy first half came to a close with dangerman McGowan curling a shot just wide from the right.

Substitute Kieron Molloy was brought on for the second half in place of Henry Brown and Trafford immediately upped their game, Charlie Frost blasting a shot from 18 yards that was parried by Bootle keeper Tony Thompson and Molloy lifting a volley onto the roof of the net.

At the other end, a glancing header by McGowan was comfortably held by Sam Booth before Thompson held a 25 yard drive by Trafford midfielder Taylor Dyson.

Bootle were now still slightly on top and a brilliant last ditch tackle by Trafford skipper Harry Norris in the 74th minute denied Stephen Edmondson as the Bootle substitute was about to pounce.

Sam Booth produced a magnificent save at point blank range as McGowan broke clear and then Will Russ looked certain to make it two for Bootle but fired wide of the near post.

Trafford battled gamely to the end but were unable to make inroads in to a home defence that was superbly marshalled by centre backs Matthew Fenton and Tom Hannigan.

This loss means that Trafford have lost ten of their thirteen defeats by a single goal but are yet to record a defensive clean sheet.

Baker’s Boys now have two crucial home games on consecutive Saturday’s as they attempt to climb off the bottom of the NPL West Division table, entertaining Congleton Town and Witton Albion, both games kicking off at 3 p.m.

Bootle

1 vs 0

Trafford FC

Lee Rick

Trafford FC vs Vauxhall Motors

Trafford slumped to their first defeat under new manager Tom Baker as Motors veteran striker Kevin Ellison came off the bench to snatch an 83rd minute winner.

Baker made two changes to the side that had performed so brilliantly at Stafford Rangers the previous week, Prosper Imar replacing Brad Byrne and Ben Horne coming in for the suspended Harry Norris.

Both teams started brightly with Trafford striker Charlie Frost impressing for the hosts and left winger Kyle Sambor causing problems for the visitors.

Despite this, both defences were on top for most of the first half, Trafford keeper Sam Booth comfortably holding a Sambor free kick in the 16th minute and Reece Trueman holding a Frost drive at the second attempt five minutes later.

Tom Baker made two changes to his line-up at half-time, replacing Ben Horne and Prosper Imar with Mackena Bradshaw and Henry Brown, and within three minutes of the restart this move paid off, Charlie Frost advancing on the left to fire past Trueman and inside the far post.

Kyle Sambor flashed a shot across the face of the Trafford goal as Motors began to dominate and they notched a deserved equaliser in the 66th minute when Sambor crossed from the left and Conor Harwood headed powerfully past Sam Booth from eight yards.

Dangerman Sambor then rounded Booth but thankfully shot wide of the far post and in the 76th minute Trafford midfielder Taylor Dyson rifled a 25 yard drive inches past the left hand upright.

A great move down the left ended with a close range effort by Matt Davies being cleared off the Motors goal-line before disaster struck for the hosts in the 83rd minute when the visitors 46 year old striker Kevin Ellison, introduced to the fray just minutes earlier, netted at the back post after Michael Grogan headed a deep cross into his path.

Trafford poured forward in search of the equaliser but despite an almighty goalmouth scramble deep into injury time were unable to break down the well-drilled Motors defence and so fell to a 2-1 defeat that keeps them rooted to the foot of the NPL West Division table.

However, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they travel to play Bootle FC, kick off 3 p.m.