Match Report

Trafford fell to another heart-breaking defeat on Saturday when two goals in the last two minutes gave Chaetown a 3-1 victory and left the hosts winless after six league games.

Following his side’s recent poor run of results, manager Karl Marginson made seven changes to the line-up that were beaten by Stalybridge Celtic in midweek and his team responded by making a confident and bright start to the game.

A Sean Higgins pile-driver was parried by visiting keeper Curtis Pond whilst at the other end, Trafford’s debutant goalkeeper Connor Eastham saved a close range shot by Alex Bradley with his feet.

Pond then saved a low ground shot by Campbell Reid and then held a diving header by Trafford skipper Harry Norris at the second attempt.

In the 39th minute Marginson’s team forged ahead when Matt Davies won the ball out on the right, cut inside and cracked a low drive that deflected off Chasetown defender Jordan Evans and flew past Pond.

Trafford were clearly buoyed by this goal and went in search of a second, Hilal Khan striking a thunderous drive that Pond pushed to safety and Matt Davies firing weakly from 15 yards.

Seven minutes into time-added-on the visitors levelled when Jordan Evans swung a wickedly curling free kick in from the right that evaded everyone and nestled inside the far corner.

Despite this setback, Trafford started the second half confidently with Davies going close once more and Harry Norris heading a corner onto the roof of the net.

A goal-bound volley by Hilal Khan was blocked by a visiting defender and Khan then blasted a great drive from 25 yards that flew inches over the crossbar.

In the 88th minute, disaster struck for the hosts when Chasetown striker Joey Butlin broke down the right with Trafford vainly appealing for offside and rifled a superb ground shot past Eastham and into the far corner.

Two minutes later substitute Tom Thorley made it three when he pounced on a loose ball inside the Trafford penalty area and fired hard and low past the despairing Eastham.

The final whistle signalled a desperately disappointing defeat for a Trafford team who had been in the ascendancy for long spells but had been punished for conceding ‘soft’ goals.

Images by Jon Pidge

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