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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Trafford FC
