Match Report

Trafford made the perfect start to their league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over a young and inexperienced Longridge side.

Tom Baker’s side were on top from the start with the midfield trio of Dave Worrall, Scott Sephton and Brad Byrne controlling the game, but they had to wait until the 20th minute for their first attempt on goal, Luke Sephton firing just wide from 20 yards.

Sixty seconds later, Trafford took a deserved lead when Ryan Brooke expertly held off a challenge in the inside left channel and shot coolly past the advancing Josh Burden.

Brooke then struck a superb curling drive from 30 yards that Burden brilliantly pushed past the post and Fin Stanyerheaded just over as Trafford poured forward in search of a second goal.

Brad Byrne, Harry Norris and Ryan Brooke all went close and Trafford went in at the interval with just one goal to their name despite their overwhelming superiority.

The Longridge goal lead a charmed life in the opening minutes of the second half with Luke Sephton twice squandering good chances and Kyle Worsley curling a shot over.

A second goal seemed inevitable but in the 54th minute the home fans were shocked when Longridge’s Tristan Walmsley broke clear of the home defence and appeared certain to score but shot hopelessly straight at Connor Beard.

Two minutes later Baker’s Boys struck again with a neat move orchestrated by Dave Worrall, Kyle Worsley collecting the ball and striking an unstoppable left footed volley past Burden.

And in the 66th minute the points were secured when Worrall found Worsley with a short corner on the right and Fin Stanyer executed a brilliant first time back heel to make it 3-0.

Burden produced another magnificent save to tip a Luke Sephton pile-driver over the bar and the final action of the game saw the younger Sephton brother go close again only to be denied by a fine save by the under pressure Longridge keeper.

Trafford manager Tom Baker was delighted with the performance and result but knows that there are far sterner challenges ahead, starting with Tuesday’s visit to highly fancied Ramsbottom United, kick off 7-45 p.m.