Match Report

Trafford made it six wins on the bounce as they defeated Atherton Collieries 3-1 to book their place in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy.
Ryley Smith curled a 25 yard free kick inches wide as Trafford made a confident start and in the 10th minute they forged ahead, Damola Sotona making a great run down the left and crossing to Matty Morgan who was bundled to the ground. Sotona coolly dispatched the resultant spot kick past Ellis Litherland and into the bottom corner.
Colls were finding plenty of space down their right flank and in the 15th minute Calen Gallagher fired over from the edge of the penalty area.
In the 26th minute Trafford struck again, Hilal Khan floating a corner over from the left that Colls failed to clear and home centre back Jordan Fagbola pouncing to poke the ball home from close range.
Just sixty seconds later the visitors were unfortunate not to score, Eden Bailey catching home keeper Ollie Culkin out of position and crashing an angled drive against the right hand upright from 25 yards.
Litherland pushed an Isaac Noble effort past the post following a lightning fast break by Trafford and as half-time approached, with the visitors just about on top, Ollie Culkin produced a superb point blank save to thwart Eden Bailey.
In the dying seconds of the first half Colls created another good chance with Oliver Putnam heading straight at Culkin from just eight yards.
Visiting manager Michael Clegg made two tactical substitutions at half-time and Colls pushed forward relentlessly, Ethan Kershaw rifling a shot just over from 20 yards.
Trafford boss Karl Marginson responded by making three substitutions of his own, introducing Glenn Matthews, Harry Norris and Rob Worrall to the action.
And this bold move paid immediate dividends as ,just four minutes later, Ryley Smith brilliantly nut-megged a Colls defender out on the left and struck a beautiful low, angled drive inside the far post to make it 3-0.
Trafford’s two remaining substitutes, Kanye Nisbett and Matty Lusakueno, replaced the tiring Matty Morgan and Isaac Noble and for several minutes the home side appeared to lose their tactical shape, and in the 67th minute Colls were rewarded for their enterprise when Will Riding broke clear on the right and, after initially being denied by a superb save by Culkin, had the wherewithal to fire the rebound inside the far post.
Colls sensed that an unlikely comeback was on the cards but the Trafford defence repelled everything thrown at them, marshalled once again by another towering performance by Jordan Fagbola, and the only half chance the visitors created was a snapshot by Eden Bailey that was comfortably held by Culkin.
Trafford now eagerly await the draw for the FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round on Monday lunch time before turning their attentions to Tuesday nights league Fixture at Clitheroe when they will be hoping that another victory can see them return to the top of the NPL West Division table.

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