Match Report

Ten- man Trafford tumbled to yet another single goal defeat to leave them stranded at the foot of the NPL West Division table.

Nantwich dominated the opening stages but it was the home side that created the first chance of note, Kieron Molloy stretching to volley just wide in the 14th minute.

Town full back Aidan Roxburgh fired past the upright from fully 40 yards following a weak clearance by Sam Booth who immediately redeemed himself with a fine fingertip save to push a Pat Kennedy header over the crossbar.

Town keeper Ben Garratt saved bravely to thwart Josh Wood in the 36th minute and Sam Booth produced another good save to keep out a header by Town’s giant striker Byron Harrison.

The game erupted in the 44th minute when Kieron Molloy was sent off for appearing to strike a Town defender although the referee’s action was perhaps influenced by the theatricals of the stricken player.

A medical emergency in the crowd led to a lengthy delay and to compound Trafford’s misery, in the 10th minute of time-added-on, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Sam Booth was harshly adjudged to have brought down Harrison. The striker composed himself and sent the resultant spot kick sweetly into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 at the break.

As a spectacle, the second half was desperately disappointing with Nantwich content to just retain possession.

There was very little goalmouth action at either end, the highlights being a last ditch clearance by Harry Norris following a Roxburgh cross from the right and a header by Town substitute Callum Saunders that was cleared off the line by Jordan Fagbola.

Trafford manager Karl Marginson utilised all five substitutes in an attempt to get back on level terms but despite their best efforts they were unable to create any goal-scoring opportunities and so fell to their eighth defeat of the season by just one goal.

On Saturday Trafford travel to play Kidsgrove Athletic in a NPL West Division fixture kicking off at 3 p.m.