TRAFFORD 2 GLOSSOP NORTH END 0

Trafford got back to winning ways on Tuesday night when they produced a scintillating performance to defeat Glossop North End 2-0 at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium.

Despite missing the services of the injured quartet of Dave Worrall, Luke Sephton, Connor Grogan and Ryan Brooke, Tom Baker’s side were on top from the outset and should have taken the lead in the 15th minute when skipper Harry Norris headed a corner from the left against the upright.

Kyle Worsley and Dillon Edmondson also went close before Glossop keeper Oliver Martin produced a magnificent save to push a Bile Ahmed thunderbolt past the post.

It was all Trafford but still they could not find the breakthrough and just before half-time Mackena Bradshaw struck a low drive wide and then fired against the right hand post following great work by Lewis Jacklin.

The onslaught continued into the second half, Bradshaw volleying over from 15 yards and Dillon Edmondson somehow failing to connect with an Ahmed cross.

Finally, in the 58th minute, Trafford were rewarded for their superiority and what a memorable goal it was, Kyle Worsley cutting in from the left and cracking a stunning curling drive from 35 yards over Martin and into the top corner.

Three minutes later Worsley should have made it two but shot wide from 15 yards and shortly afterwards Edmondson failed again to connect with a tantalising cross by Brad Byrne.

Mackena Bradshaw missed another great chance when he poked the ball straight at Martin from close range but the Trafford fans were given a scare in the 88th minute when a deep free kick from the right was glanced wide by Glossop centre back Jordan Schofield.

However, two minutes into ‘time added on’, the score was given a more realistic look when Lewis Jacklin broke down the right flank and swung over a glorious cross to the back post where substitute Brad Njine arrived to nudge the ball home and make it 2-0.

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A moment of magic by Dave Worrall in the 89th minute earned Trafford the three points, extending their winning streak to six games and moving them up to fifth in the NWCFL Premier Division.

The game was played at a furious pace throughout with no quarter given and both sides totally committed.

As a result there was a lack of creativity although Scott Sephton and Fin Stanyer both saw shots blocked in the opening stages.

Trafford were just on top and took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when Dillon Edmundson was upended on the edge of the Nelson penalty area. Brad Byrne stepped forward to take the resultant free kick and curled an exquisite shot past Chris Thompson and into the top corner.

Hamed Sidibe was seeing plenty of the ball out on the left for the hosts but was rather wasteful with his delivery and in the 28th minute Jacob May headed a free kick just wide as Trafford sought a second goal.

In the 35th minute the home crowd were stunned when Nelson levelled, Sean Ince cracking a magnificent free kick from 30 yards out on the left, over the defensive wall and inside the far post.

Nelson keeper Thompson then produced a superb save to deny Bile Ahmed just before half-time and the teams went in at the interval with the score locked at 1-1.

Trafford manager Tom Baker introduced substitute Dave Worrall for the second half and he made an immediate impact with his composure on the ball and passing ability.

Nevertheless, it was Nelson who should have taken the lead on the hour mark when Max Cane seized upon a weak back header by Jacob May, rounded keeper Beard but then sliced his shot hopelessly wide from just ten yards.

That miss appeared to galvanise the home side and they pushed forward in search of the winner.

Scott Sephton headed just wide, Dave Worrall’s appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears and then substitute Brad Njine saw his shot from just two yards blocked on the line by the under fire Nelson defence.

Then, with time running out and the vociferous home supporters roaring their team forward, Worrall struck.

A long ball was headed clear by Nelson defender Darren Holden under pressure from Ryan Brooke. The mercurial Worrall glanced up to see goalkeeper Thompson off his line and struck a sensational first time volley from fully 40 yards over the stranded keeper and into the top corner.

The home supporters went wild and with the Trafford defence, superbly marshalled once more by skipper Harry Norris, holding out for the additional nine minutes of ‘injury time’ the final whistle signalled yet another outstanding performance and result for Baker’s Boys.

TRAFFORD 1 ISLE OF MAN 0

Trafford extended their winning streak to five games with a hard fought victory over FC Isle of Man at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Saturday.

Manager Tom Baker was forced to make a late change to the side that had performed so admirably in beating Runcorn Linnets the previous week, midfielder Luke Sephton withdrawing from the line-up following an injury in the warm up. Sephton was replaced by Brad Byrne.

The hosts started brightly with Callum Grogan bursting forward in the 2nd minute but seeing his thunderous drive from 20 yards fly inches over the crossbar.

Both defences were on top for much of the first half but the deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute when Bile Ahmed floated a superb cross from the left to the back post where Ryan Brooke arrived to volley expertly past Adam Killey.

The crowd of just under 400 then had to wait until the 47th minute for the next meaningful attempt at goal, Brooke turning neatly just outside the Ravens penalty area but firing over.

A Scott Sephton shot from 20 yards in the 56th minute was deflected wide and from the resultant corner by Dave Worrall, Ryan Brooke headed just wide.

Trafford keeper Connor Beard was virtually redundant until the hour mark when he comfortably held a free kick by Tom Brown but it was Trafford who always posed the more potent goal threat, Bile Ahmed cracking a low drive that was tipped behind by Killey.

Lewis Jacklin’s close range effort was blocked by a Ravens defender and five minutes from time Bile Ahmed wriggled through four challenges but poked the ball just wide from 10 yards.

Substitute Jacob May volleyed well over as the Islanders half cleared a left wing corner and seconds later the final whistle arrived to signal another magnificent victory for Tom Baker’s side and move them up to sixth in the North West Counties League Premier Division table, three points behind leaders Nelson but with a game in hand.

Intriguingly, Trafford entertain Nelson on Tuesday night at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 7-45 p.m.