Match Report

Trafford’s season of woe continued on Tuesday night when they were beaten on sudden death penalties at Ashton United in their Manchester Premier Cup Second Round Tie.

Tom Baker’s side played some superb football but just lacked that final pass with Brad Byrne firing over from the left and Prosper Imar seeing his header tipped over by Jordan Eastham in a defence dominated first half.

Ashton centre back Dylan Cogill headed a right wing corner just over in the 50th minute and substitute Darius Osei cut inside Jack Higginbottom shortly afterwards but was denied by a fine reflex save by Sam Booth.

A dipping free kick by Trafford midfielder Taylor Dyson in the 78th minute was held by Eastham and, as the hosts pushed forward in the closing stages, Sam Booth performed heroics once more to thwart Osei from point blank range.

With the score standing at 0-0 after ninety minutes, the game went straight to penalties and Trafford made the perfect start when Sam Booth saved brilliantly from Sean Newton and Alex Byrne.

However, they then squandered two golden opportunities to win the tie when Isaac Noble and Prosper Imar saw their spot kicks saved and when the penalties went to ‘sudden death’ Lee Rick had the misfortune to see Jordan Eastham throw himself to his right to parry the shot.

Despite this defeat, Tom Baker’s side emerged from the game with great credit as they played the neater, more creative football, and they can approach Saturday’s vital league match at home to Witton Albion with renewed confidence as they strive to move off the bottom of the NPL West Division table.