Bower Fold

Stalybridge Celtic vs Trafford FC

Trafford’s mini-revival came to an end on Saturday when they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of third placed Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold.

With three wins from their last four games, Tom Baker’s side started confidently, dominating possession against a side that had been unbeaten in their last eleven games.

Despite their superiority, however, the visitors were unable to carve out any clear-cut openings with their only half-chance falling to teenage striker James Butterworth on the half hour mark when he glanced a cross by debutant Isaac Modi well wide.

In the 37th minute, and against the run of play, Celtic took the lead, Ellis Horan curling a free kick that Trafford keeper Charlie Brier did well to push against the upright but then seeing Jack Irlam react the quickest to turn the rebound home from four yards.

Baker’s Boys responded positively to this setback with Butterworth breaking clear on the left but firing over and then midfielder Scott Sephton rifling a 25 yard drive just past the left hand post.

Trafford’s second half performance was disappointing as they allowed Celtic to dominate for long spells, Andy Scarisbrick and Max Leonard both going close with long range efforts.

And in the 65th minute the hosts doubled their lead when Ollie Southern tangled with Ruben Jerome and the ball fell kindly for Ellis Horan who strode forward and cracked a fine shot inside the far post past the helpless Brier.

Kyle Worlsey was a constant threat out on the right flank for Trafford, blasting a shot over in the 68th minute and then playing a glorious pass across the face of the Celtic goal that unfortunately evaded his team-mates.

Isaac Modi prodded a corner well wide, Scott Sephton shot first time past the right hand post and then skipper Harry Norris saw his goal-bound header from a Worsley corner cleared off the line by Kyle Brownhill.

But despite this late pressure Trafford were unable to reduce the arrears and so fell to yet another away defeat, having recorded just one victory on their travels this season, at Stafford Rangers on November 8th.

Baker’s Boys must now put this disappointment behind them and focus on their home fixture on Good Friday when they entertain fourth placed Runcorn Linnets, kick off 3 p.m.

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Stalybridge Celtic v Trafford FC

Trafford crashed out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle on Saturday when they fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of a powerful and impressive Stalybridge side.

The pace, intensity and urgency that characterised their magnificent 2-1 FA Cup victory over Stockton Town last week was somehow missing as Trafford rarely troubled home keeper Charlie Monks despite enjoying a good share of the possession.

Jerome Wright made several great runs down the left flank in the opening stages but was rather wasteful with his final pass whilst Celtic’s Ellis Horan foraged forward repeatedly , glancing a header goal-wards in the 12th minute that was well held by Sam Booth.

And it was Horan who paved the way for the opening goal in the 20th minute when he broke forward  once again but was denied by two brilliant saves by Booth before the Trafford keeper had the misfortune to upend Jack Irlam as he stretched for the loose ball.

Irlam dusted himself down and struck the resultant penalty past Booth and into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

Danger-man Horan then rifled an angled drive just over from the left but Trafford were playing with great confidence and composure only to be let down by their final ball.

Campbell Reid cut inside two defenders in the 36th minute but shot weakly at Monks and a minute later Jack Irlam almost made it two but saw his close range shot blocked by Jordan Fagbola, the giant centre back needing treatment for his efforts.

On the stroke of half-time Ellis Horan found himself in acres of space once more but thankfully screwed his shot wide from 15 yards.

The opening minutes of the second half were very scrappy with both teams squandering possession far too readily.

Jack Irlam rifled a drive wide of the near post and in the 68th minute Trafford substitute Kieran Molloy cut in from the right but fired past the far upright.

Just sixty seconds later the tie was as good as over when Trafford carelessly conceded possession on their left and Celtic cut through the visitor’s defence allowing Elliot Rokka the simplest of tasks in guiding his shot into the far corner from 10 yards.

Trafford refused to lie down following this setback but their play lacked the intensity they displayed the previous week and the superbly drilled Celtic defence restricted them to half-chances for Matt Davies and Campbell Reid.

Kieran Molloy then volleyed tamely into Monks hands from just eight yards and a 25 yard drive by Brad Byrne was deflected over by Celtic skipper Liam Tongue.

And in the dying seconds Celtic substitute Ivan Egharevba should have made it three when he broke clear down the left but shot weakly at Sam Booth.

Trafford will be desperate to make amends for this performance and defeat on Saturday when they travel to Nantwich Town for their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Tie before having their chance for revenge on Celtic, who visit the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Tuesday 16th September, kick off 7-45 p.m.

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Stalybridge Celtic vs Trafford FC

Trafford moved up to fourth place in the NPL West Division following a magnificent 2-1 victory at Stalybridge Celtic on Bank Holiday Monday.
The game was a contrast in styles with the hosts playing a physical, aggressive, long ball game whilst Trafford relied on their neat possession based football.
And despite seeing their side dominate the early stages, the home fans were rocked in the 12th minute when Trafford stormed ahead, Rio Clegg drilling a low shot that Charlie Monks failed to hold allowing Isaac Noble to follow up and net the rebound.
On the half-hour the visitors doubled their lead when Celtic centre back Danny Lafferty and keeper Monks got in a tangle and Rio Clegg seized on the loose ball to slot it into the empty net.
Trafford keeper Sam Booth produced a fine save to thwart Jack Irlam and just before the break Celtic centre back Jack Tinning headed a right wing corner over as the hosts sought a way back into the game.
Celtic came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half obviously buoyed by a stern telling off by their manager and in the 56th minute Connor Hughes headed wide at the back post before Jack Irlam nodded over from 10 yards.
The Trafford defence was tremendous throughout, lead by another monumental performance by Jordan Fagbola, and in the 79th minute Rio Clegg should have sealed the points with a third goal but chipped the ball weakly into keeper Monks hands after a fine defence splitting pass by substitute Bailey Brown.
Celtic were thrown a lifeline in the 82nd minute when Prince Anuniru was tripped in the penalty area, skipper Liam Tongue forcing the resultant spot kick past Booth despite the Trafford keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Despite this late goal, and the referee adding eleven minutes of injury time, the visitors held out for a marvellous victory, coming just two days after their home win over Widnes, and they can now look forward to Saturday’s league clash at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium when Hanley Town are the visitors, kick off 3 p.m.

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