Cleric Stadium

Congleton Town vs Trafford FC

Trafford saved their worst performance of the season for the final game on Saturday when they were thrashed 4-0 by Congleton Town at the Cleric Stadium.

The hard, bumpy playing surface was not conducive to a possession based game but the hosts adapted immediately and took the lead after just five minutes when Danny Needham struck a low angled drive from the right inside the far post.

Trafford were struggling to string their passes together and in the 25th minute Town doubled their advantage when Tom Hampton found himself in acres of space down the middle and, with Trafford vainly appealing for offside, clipped the ball past the advancing Charlie Brier.

Charlie Frost shot across the face of the Town goal and Jack Sloan blasted well over as Trafford sought a way back into the game and their cause was helped just before half-time when Tom Hampton was sent off for a second cautionable offence.

This should have spurred the visitors into action but they were punished once more for their lethargy when Town were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Trafford penalty area, Brier flung himself to his right to parry the initial shot, but Max McCarthy followed up to volley the rebound inside the right hand upright.

A deep cross by Kyle Worsley was headed just wide by Charlie Frost in the 50th minute but just two minutes later more calamitous play by Tom Baker’s side saw Worsley lose possession on the half-way line, Kieran Knapper speed past Ollie Southern down the left and Max McCarthy net simply from six yards following Knapper’s piercing low cross.

Trafford continued to give the ball away carelessly and frequently but six minutes into stoppage time a high ball was played into the Town penalty area and home keeper Dave Parton bundled into substitute striker Prosper Imar. Ollie Southern stepped forward to take the resultant penalty but saw his weak effort pushed to safety by Parton, and seconds later the final whistle signalled the end of a season Trafford will want to forget.

After seventeen years in the Northern Premier League they will now ply their trade in the North West Counties Football League although that will mean that they have far more local fixtures against the likes of Irlam Town, West Didsbury and Chorlton, Wythenshawe Town and Prestwich Heys.

vs

Congleton Town vs Trafford FC

Trafford Open The Season With 3-0 Win

Trafford kick off the new NPL season in style with a 3-0 win at Congleton; Rio Clegg, Mike Burke, and Eoin Hogan the goalscorers. Manager Karl Marginson had the following to say about the performance of his players:

“An all round really good performance with a fantastic work ethic that enabled our players to overcome a difficult test and play some great football to boot. To a man they were magnificent. It’s very early days and the tests will keep coming thick and fast, but we’ll accept any challenge that’s in front of us and give it our best.”

Trafford made the perfect start to the 2024-25 league season on Saturday when they travelled to Congleton Town and came away with a marvellous 3-0 victory.
There was controversy straight from the kick off as Trafford striker Rio Clegg was taken out by Town keeper Ayrton Best but instead of brandishing a red card, referee Whittington surprisingly waved play-on.
It was all Trafford in those opening minutes with Clegg breaking clear but being denied by a last ditch tackle by Callum Stringer and Isaac Noble firing into the side-netting.
Trafford keeper Sam Booth saved from Brian Barton as Town settled into the game but the visitors deservedly took the lead in the 24th minute when danger-man Clegg broke clear down the right and clinically placed his shot past the advancing Best.
The hosts were a constant threat from set pieces due to their sheer physical size and in the 30th minute Booth produced a superb point blank save to thwart Josh Ryder following a left wing corner.
Jack Higginbottom cleared a Daniel Higginbottom header off the line as another corner slipped through Booth’s hands and on the stroke of half-time, Isaac Noble almost made it two when he headed just wide following great work on the left by Matty Lusakueno.
The opening minutes of the second half were scrappy and fragmented as both teams repeatedly gave the ball away.
Jordan Fagbola volleyed wide in the 58th minute and five minutes later Trafford doubled their advantage when Rio Clegg found Matty Lusakueno down the left and the ball was played across for Mike Burke to blast his shot into the top corner from 10 yards.
The hosts pushed forward in an attempt to reduce the deficit and Sam Booth was in action once more when he saved brilliantly at the feet of Max McCarthy before denying George Sankey in the 72nd minute.
Isaac Noble produced a delightful turn on the edge of the Town area before firing just over and in the third minute of time-added-on Trafford substitutes Damola Sotona and Eoin Hogan linked sublimely down the left with the latter cracking a great drive into the top corner to make it 3-0.
The final whistle signalled a tremendous victory for a Trafford side who had demonstrated incredible team work and energy throughout and a steely determination to succeed.
Post-match, Trafford Manager Karl Marginson had the following to say about the performance of his players:
“An all round really good performance with a fantastic work ethic that enabled our players to overcome a difficult test and play some great football to boot. To a man they were magnificent. It’s very early days and the tests will keep coming thick and fast, but we’ll accept any challenge that’s in front of us and give it our best.”
Marginson’s side must now concentrate their efforts on Tuesday night’s NPL West Division fixture against highly fancied Bootle FC at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 7-45pm.

vs