Bamber Bridge 1 – 3 Trafford FC

Trafford produced another magnificent performance on Saturday to defeat NPL Premier Division side Bamber Bridge 3-1 and progress through to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

Despite the fact that there were two divisions between the teams, Tom Baker’s side played the more cultured and composed football throughout with the hosts surprisingly reliant on long balls out of defence.

And Trafford were on top from the start, Scott Sephton volleying over from 30 yards and brother Luke seeing his close range effort blocked by home keeper Goodness Gospel-Eze.

Ryan Brooke’s shot from 15 yards was deflected behind as the visitors continued to dominate and Brad Byrne’s drive was also just off target.

Bridge began to cause problems for the Trafford defence with their pacey front line and took the lead in the 26th minute when a corner was floated in from the right and Regan Riley escaped his marker to head into the opposite top corner.

Two minutes later another effort by Brad Byrne was saved at full length by Gospel-Eze who then comfortably held a long range drive by Dave Worrall.

The first half ended with Bridge striker Archie Lang storming through on the right but being denied by a brave save by Connor Beard.

Ryan Brooke was desperately unlucky not to snatch the equaliser in the 52nd minute when he nodded against the crossbar after Harry Norris had headed a left wing corner back across goal, but three minutes later Trafford were rewarded for their enterprise when substitute Brad Njine’s close range shot was deflected to Lewis Jacklin who fired home from 10 yards.

A Regan Riley free kick from 20 yards skimmed the Trafford crossbar and then a brilliant last ditch tackle by skipper Harry Norris stopped Jamie Allen in his tracks as the Bridge striker threatened to break through.

In the 73rd minute Trafford introduced substitute Dillon Edmondson to the action and within seconds he collected the ball just inside the Bridge half, powered forward on a run that took him past four home defenders and then coolly steered his shot past Gospel-Eze and inside the right hand post.

An incredible goal and an inspired substitution by manager Baker.

Scott Sephton then fired against the crossbar as Trafford attempted to put the tie to bed and Edmondson almost snatched another when he broke clear but was thwarted by Gospel-Eze.

Two minutes into ‘time-added-on’, and with Trafford still pushing forward at every opportunity, Mackena Bradshaw was upended in the Bridge penalty area allowing David Worrall to blast the resultant penalty past the helpless Gospel-Eze and send the magnificent visiting supporters into raptures.

This victory stretched Trafford’s winning sequence to seven games and they can look forward with great confidence to the draw for the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup which takes place on Monday at 1 p.m.