Match Report

Trafford edged through to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over North West Counties League outfit Barnoldswick Town.

It was all Trafford in the opening stages and they took the lead in the 20th minute when Cian Donohue won the ball off Town defender Ethan Gough and curled a low shot inside the far post.

Three minutes later the hosts were stunned when, in virtually their first attack of the game, Town striker Kuda Chingwaro broke clear and slipped the ball past Ollie Culkin to make it 1-1.

Cian Donohue headed just over on the half hour mark but neither goalkeeper was troubled for the remainder of the first half.

Brad Byrne fired straight at Town keeper James Catlow five minutes into the second half but Trafford’s play became scrappy and disjointed and manager Karl Marginson introduced substitutes Hilal Khan, Campbell Reid, Kingston Fligg and Kieron Molloy in an attempt to inject greater urgency and pace into his side.

And this move paid dividends almost immediately when, in the 72nd minute, Khan floated a free kick in from the right, skipper Harry Norris headed across the face of the goal, and Reid pounced to tap the ball home from four yards.

Reid almost struck again shortly afterwards but just failed to force the ball home when Catlow fumbled Fligg’s shot.

Town pushed forward in search of the equaliser in the closing stages and in the 90th minute Trafford keeper Ollie Culkin produced a brilliant save to thwart Connor McAuley from just eight yards.

The final whistle came as a relief to a Trafford side who had been far below their best but were thankfully through to the next round of the FA Cup in which they play the winners of the Northwich Vics v Camion FC tie.

Match Programme

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