Match Report

Despite taking the lead after just 46 seconds, Trafford fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against a superbly organised Town side in their opening NPL West Division fixture on Saturday.

After the game had been delayed by 15 minutes due to a crash on the M6, and the late arrival of the visitors, Karl Marginson’s team stormed ahead in the first minute when new signing Matt Davies bundled the ball home after great approach work by Ryley Smith and Josh Woods.

In the 16th minute danger-man Davies almost struck again when he broke clear on the right but his shot from 15 yards lacked power and Zac Prior saved comfortably.

Six minutes later the visitors levelled when Trafford only half-cleared a free kick from the right and Harry Chesterton was given time and space to control the ball 20 yards out and curl a fine shot past Ollie Culkin.

In the 34th minute Trafford were dealt a sucker punch when they committed too many players forward at a free kick, allowing Jake Pearson to break clear down the right and sweep the ball across to the far post where Chesterton arrived to plant the ball under Culkin and make it 2-1.

Referee Kendrick was upsetting the home supporters with some strange decisions, none more so than five minutes before the interval when Town centre back Alex Forshaw clearly pushed a cross by Jerome Wright behind for a corner with his hand, Trafford’s screams for a penalty falling on deaf ears.

The second half saw Trafford monopolising possession but failing to create any clear-cut chances although substitute Kingston Fligg broke forward in the 62nd minute and blasted a low drive from 25 yards that Prior pushed behind.

Appeals for another penalty were ignored when Jordan Fagbola headed a free kick into the packed Town penalty area and Matt Davies twice went close as Marginson’s team desperately sought an equaliser.

The game almost finished in sensational fashion when home keeper Culkin ventured forward in the dying seconds for a left wing corner but saw his glancing header agonisingly clip the outside of the near post and fall to safety.

Trafford will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Tuesday when they travel to play Clitheroe but know that it will be another stern test against a side that many are tipping for promotion.