Trafford FC vs Stockton Town

Kingston Fligg struck an injury time winner to shock NPL Premier Division outfit Stockton Town and earn Trafford a place in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.

Both teams played on the front foot throughout in what was a superb advert for non-league football and after just three minutes Trafford’s young forward Campbell Reid flashed a low pass across the face of the Town goal with no one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

At the other end, a 25 yard free kick by Kevin Hayes was pushed past the post by home keeper Sam Booth before disaster struck for the hosts in the 28th minute when Trafford skipper Harry Norris under-hit a pass back to Booth and Amar Purewal pounced to guide the ball into the vacant goal.

Four minutes later Trafford should have equalised when Hilal Khan released Ben Woods with a sublime through ball but visiting keeper Harry Christy came out to block.

In the 37th minute Purewal almost made it two but thankfully poked his shot wide with just Booth to beat.

Danger-man Purewal continued to threaten the home defence in the opening stages of the second half, having a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside in the 51st minute and then breaking down the left and firing past the near post.

Campbell Reid squandered a great chance in the 59th minute when he skipped inside Arjun Purewal but saw his effort blocked at point blank range by Christy.

In the 66th minute Trafford were finally rewarded for their endeavour with a brilliantly worked goal, Mackena Bradshaw blasting a fine shot into the roof of the net after a deft flick by Matt Davies.

Both teams were now totally committed to attack in what was turning out to be an FA Cup classic and after Trafford substitute Josh Wood saw his goal-bound shot cleared off the Town goal-line, Kevin Hayes volleyed over from just 10 yards.

In the third minute of ‘time-added-on’ Trafford were awarded a corner out on the right. Town only half-cleared the danger , Jerome Wright floated a cross beyond the far post and when Jordan Fagbola headed the ball across the face of the Town goal, Kingston Fligg pounced to tap home from just two yards.

Matt Davies wasted a glorious chance to make it 3-1 when he was clean through but over-ran the ball allowing Christy to  block. Seconds later the final whistle arrived to signal a momentous victory for Karl Marginson’s young side who had shown tremendous energy, determination, passion and skill throughout the game.

On Saturday, Trafford are in cup action once more when they travel to play Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Trophy kick off 3 p.m.

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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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Trafford FC vs Campion AFC

Trafford cruised through to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over a spirited Campion side at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Saturday.

For the second week in succession, Karl Marginson’s side made a whirlwind start, taking the lead after just four minutes when Jerome Wright found Hilal Khan with a glorious diagonal pass, Khan advancing to coolly place the ball past Luke Wilson.

Josh Wood then fired over as Trafford sought a second but just as in the last two games, the hosts took their foot off the gas and allowed Campion back into the game.

Visiting striker Pat Sykes shot straight at Ollie Culkin and Jack Normanton squandered a chance on the half hour mark when he fired over from 15 yards.

In the 38th minute, however, Trafford’s quicksilver winger Kieron Molloy sped down the left and curled a superb cross into the path of Matt Davies who volleyed over from just eight yards.

Sykes again shot wastefully at Culkin two minutes into the second half but three minutes later Trafford struck again when Hilal Khan blasted a wickedly dipping free kick from 30 yards that keeper Wilson fumbled and Kieron Molloy followed up to tap home.

The hosts were now completely in control and in the 56th minute put the tie to bed when Josh Wood broke down the right and crossed for Matt Davies to net at the back post and make it 3-0.

The remainder of the game saw Trafford create chance after chance as they poured forward in search of more goals.

Wilson denied substitute Harrison Bickerton, Matt Davies’ shot from 10 yards was deflected wide and Ben Woods should have scored but was thwarted by a last gasp block on the goal-line.

Campbell Reid squandered a great chance to make it four but Wilson again saved brilliantly, and in an almighty goalmouth scramble in the 87th minute, Reid hit the foot of the post, Fligg saw his effort blocked and Henry Brown blasted his shot against a defender.

Despite these missed opportunities Trafford were delighted with a victory against a previously unbeaten side and they can now look forward to Monday’s draw with added confidence.

Due to a 1-1 draw in the tie between Stalybridge Celtic and Bury, Trafford’s league fixture scheduled for Tuesday against the former will now be played at a later date.

This means that Trafford’s next game is on Friday night at Runcorn Linnets, kick off 7-45 p.m., before they entertain Wythenshawe Town on Bank Holiday Monday, kick off 3 p.m.   

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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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Trafford FC vs Barnoldswick Town

Trafford edged through to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over North West Counties League outfit Barnoldswick Town.

It was all Trafford in the opening stages and they took the lead in the 20th minute when Cian Donohue won the ball off Town defender Ethan Gough and curled a low shot inside the far post.

Three minutes later the hosts were stunned when, in virtually their first attack of the game, Town striker Kuda Chingwaro broke clear and slipped the ball past Ollie Culkin to make it 1-1.

Cian Donohue headed just over on the half hour mark but neither goalkeeper was troubled for the remainder of the first half.

Brad Byrne fired straight at Town keeper James Catlow five minutes into the second half but Trafford’s play became scrappy and disjointed and manager Karl Marginson introduced substitutes Hilal Khan, Campbell Reid, Kingston Fligg and Kieron Molloy in an attempt to inject greater urgency and pace into his side.

And this move paid dividends almost immediately when, in the 72nd minute, Khan floated a free kick in from the right, skipper Harry Norris headed across the face of the goal, and Reid pounced to tap the ball home from four yards.

Reid almost struck again shortly afterwards but just failed to force the ball home when Catlow fumbled Fligg’s shot.

Town pushed forward in search of the equaliser in the closing stages and in the 90th minute Trafford keeper Ollie Culkin produced a brilliant save to thwart Connor McAuley from just eight yards.

The final whistle came as a relief to a Trafford side who had been far below their best but were thankfully through to the next round of the FA Cup in which they play the winners of the Northwich Vics v Camion FC tie.

Match Programme

Match Photos

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Trafford FC vs Radcliffe FC

Trafford were defeated 2-1 by National League North side Radcliffe FC on Tuesday night but emerged from a close game with great credit.

As it turned out, the difference between the two sides was former Trafford striker Rio Clegg who scored two late, opportunistic goals, after it appeared for long spells that Karl Marginson’s team would cause a major upset.

The hosts moved the ball around confidently from the start against a side two steps higher up the non-league pyramid and in the 12th minute Ryley Smith’s long range effort took a slight deflection but was held by Mateusz Hewlet.

Josh Wood was a constant threat to the Radcliffe defence and was unfortunate when his low menacing pass across the face of the visitor’s goal evaded everyone.

Regan Riley fizzed a shot just past the far post and a half of little goalmouth action, but plenty of endeavour, ended with Rio Clegg shooting just wide from 25 yards.

Manager Marginson made eight changes to his line-up at half-time and his revamped side produced some scintillating football taking the lead in the 54th minute when Radcliffe failed to clear a Hilal Khan free kick and Mackenna Bradshaw rose to power home a header at the back post.

Trafford continued to play some superbly composed football and in the 63rd minute Kevin Spinelli cut in from the right but curled his shot just over.

With twenty minutes remaining Rio Clegg took centre stage to torment his former team-mates and turn the course of the game.

Sam Booth thwarted Clegg with a brilliant save at point blank range but just two minutes later was powerless to prevent the equaliser, Clegg brilliantly clipping the ball over Jack Higginbottom before poking the ball inside the near post.

Booth made another brilliant save to deny Jon Taylor but in the 81st minute Radcliffe left winger Isaac Modi outpaced Bradshaw and crossed hard and low to the back post where Clegg arrived to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.

Trafford were unable to force an equaliser but can take great heart from an excellent performance that should fill them with confidence ahead of Saturday FA Cup Extra Preliminary Tie against Barnoldswick Town at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium.

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Trafford FC vs Flixton FC

The long awaited M41 Derby ended with Trafford victorious in front of a bumper crowd of just under 700.
The hosts dominated possession in the opening stages but Flixton always looked dangerous on the break with Wahad Damphat making some great runs down the right.

Trafford striker Kevin Spinelli blasted over from 15 yards in the 14th minute but the best chance fell to the visitors Will Jones who lifted the ball into Ollie Culkin’s hands with only the keeper to beat.
However, just sixty seconds later Yasser Salim opened the scoring when he outpaced the Trafford defence on the left and fired past the advancing Culkin.

Five minutes later Trafford were level when Spinelli fed Josh Woods who brilliantly skipped past Ellis Allen and ran the ball into the empty goal.

Karl Marginson’s team were now on top and forged ahead in the 36th minute when Cian Donohue was fouled on the edge of the Flixton penalty area and Hilal Khan stepped forward to curl the free kick into the bottom corner.

On the stroke of half-time Trafford carelessly gifted Flixton the equaliser when Jack Higginbottom and Ollie Culkin got into a mix up and Abdul Salim had the simplest of tap-ins.

Manager Marginson made seven changes to the Trafford line-up at the start of the second half and for long periods there was little or no goalmouth action.

The hosts gradually got on top though and on the hour a Matty Lusakueno pile-driver was superbly blocked by Allen.

Campbell Reid and Henry Brown both shot over as Flixton visibly tired and in the 75th minute Lusakueno made amends for his earlier miss when he stepped inside a Flixton defender and curled a stunning 20 yard drive into the top corner to make it 3-2.

Henry Brown waltzed past a visiting defender but fired over once more before the scoring was completed in the 82nd minute when Harrison Bickerton rounded off another incisive move with a low drive into the bottom corner from 15 yards.

A hard fought and thoroughly entertaining game came to a close with both teams emerging with great credit and re-igniting their intense but friendly rivalry in front of a large and appreciative crowd of 679.

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Trafford FC vs FC United

Trafford staged a remarkable comeback to defeat non-league aristocrats FC United of Manchester 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Monday night.

The visitors were in total control for much of the first half and took the lead after just eight minutes when Andre Wisdom fed Jay Fitzmartin who coolly and clinically fired past the advancing Ollie Culkin.

Six minutes later Ron Sithole made it two when he gained control just outside the Trafford penalty area and lashed the ball into the bottom corner.

Fitzmartin then crashed his shot against the Trafford crossbar as the Red Rebels threatened to run riot and a fierce drive by skipper Charlie Ennis was blocked by the under fire home defence.

In the 27th minute and completely against the run of play, Karl Marginson’s side pulled a goal back when Jerome Wright made a great run down the left, crossed hard and low and Ryley Smith pounced to drill the ball home from 15 yards.

The second half was more even although Jan Palinkas almost made it 3-1 in the 66th minute when he swivelled and blasted a fine effort against the crossbar from 12 yards.

Both teams made numerous substitutions and in the 72nd minute Trafford’s Hilal Khan neatly headed the ball into the path of Henry Brown who struck a thunderous drive from 20 yards past Dan Atherton and into the top right hand corner for a wonderful equaliser.

The hosts now sensed an upset and upped the tempo of their game in the closing stages.

Ryley Smith ghosted past two defenders and saw his fine effort held by Atherton before, with just two minutes remaining, Kieran Molloy rode a challenge by United full back Adam Sudworth and shot under the advancing keeper.

The final whistle signalled a tremendous victory for Marginson’s Men who now entertain the resurrected Flixton Football Club on Saturday, kick off 3 p.m., before completing their preparations for the new season on Tuesday night when Radcliffe FC are the visitors.

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Trafford FC vs Coleshill Town

An entertaining game in the intense heat

Despite the intense heat, both teams produced an entertaining game with a late goal by Jack Donohue settling the outcome.
Trafford manager Karl Marginson started the game with a young line-up, his side containing six players who had graduated from the youth system, and throughout the first half they played some neat possession football whilst Coleshill relied on a more direct approach.
Trafford winger Ryley Smith struck a low shot in the 18th minute that was comfortably held by Cameron Bamford and on the half hour Town striker Daniel Gyasi broke clear but was denied by a brave block by Ollie Culkin.

Bamford saved long range efforts by Cian Donohue and Ben Lowe as half-time approached and at the interval manager Marginson made nine changes to his line-up.

Trafford’s play became a little fragmented and Town pushed forward in search of the opening goal.
Theo Rowe curled a shot just over and Ollie Culkin blocked a shot by Harry Sweeney before being replaced by Sam Booth.
Booth was immediately called in to action, pulling off a brilliant save to thwart Ross Evans and it was slightly against the run of play that Trafford took the lead in the 79th minute when Henry Brown fed Jack Donohue who blasted his shot into the roof of the net from ten yards.

Brad Byrne and Matty Lusakueno both went close to increasing the home side’s lead but the game ended in worrying fashion when Oli Irwin was stretchered off with a nasty looking knee injury in the dying seconds.

Trafford continue their preparations for the new season on Tuesday night when they visit Irlam FC, kick off 7-45 p.m., before travelling to Cheadle Town on Saturday for a 1-30 p.m. kick off.

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Trafford FC vs Avro

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