Match Report

BARNOLDSWICK TOWN 1 TRAFFORD 2

Trafford moved up in to third place in the North West Counties Premier League table following a tremendously hard fought victory at Barnoldswick on Tueday night.

Tom Baker’s side were much the better team in the first half and took the lead in the 19th minute when Kyle Worsley’s wicked low cross from the right was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Bruno Carnavale.

Just after the half hour mark Bile Ahmed made it two when he collected the ball out on the left, cut inside and rifled a magnificent angled drive past James Whittingham and into the roof of the net.

Three minutes into the second half Kyle Worsley arrowed another piercing cross to the back post but unfortunately Dillon Edmondson headed just over.

The hosts were battling gamely to get back into the match and were rewarded for their efforts in the 62nd minute when a 30 yard drive by Kuda Chingwaro was completely misjudged by Trafford keeper Connor Beard who allowed the ball to creep into the bottom corner.

Carnavale then shot across the face of the goal as Town sought an equaliser but it was Trafford who went closest to scoring when Worsley blasted a shot from 25 yards that Whittingham tipped past the upright. 

The visitors cause was helped by the dismissal of home striker Will Proctor in the 79th minute for a second cautionable offence and just sixty seconds later substitute Brad Njine should have sewn the game up when he somehow shot against a Town defender from just three yards.

Harry Norris, Jacob May and Fin Stanyer were all magnificent in the Trafford defence and Baker’s Boys held out comfortably in the closing stages to seal another vital victory.

On Saturday, Trafford are on their travels once more when they make the short journey to play Prestwich Heys in the First Round of the Macron Cup, kick off 3 p.m.