Match Report

Trafford ended their winless start to NPL West Division season with a resounding 4-1 victory over Midlands based Sporting Khalsa at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Saturday.

Karl Marginson’s side should have taken the lead in the first minute but Campbell Reid failed to react when the ball fell to him at the back post just four yards from goal.

Despite the presence of Storm Amy, both sides provided great entertainment for a sparse crowd of 157 and in the 19th minute Cian Donohue threatened to break clear but was denied by a brilliant last ditch tackle by Jack Fletcher.

From the resultant corner, Harry Winstanley headed over at the back post.

Kieron Molloy made several great runs down the right flank but was let down by his final pass. However, he made amends for his wastefulness in the 24th minute when he swung a corner over that Khalsa keeper R’avan Constable mistimed and could only help the ball into his own goal.

Campbell Reid headed agonisingly wide following a sweeping cross by Brad Byrne and then a piercing run by Molloy ended with a good save by Constable.

In the 34th minute Trafford striker Matt Davies was forced to leave the field with a thigh injury and his replacement Tom Lawrence was quickly into the action when his back post header was saved by Constable.

On the stroke of half-time Trafford doubled their lead when Campbell Reid broke down the left and flighted a glorious cross to the near post that Tom Lawrence neatly headed over the Khalsa keeper and inside the far post.

Seven minutes into the second half the hosts struck again when Molloy and Reid linked on the right, the ball was switched inside to Jack Higginbottom who struck a rasping first time drive past Constable and into the roof of the net.

Andre Landell struck the foot of the post as Khalsa attempted to claw their way back into the game and the introduction of four substitutes by Trafford appeared to affect their side’s rhythm.

Jack Fletcher struck a shot from close range that struck Landell and flew over and in the 75thminute the visitors were rewarded for their enterprise when Landell fired a low drive from 20 yards that flew into the bottom corner.

Despite this setback, Trafford keeper Sam Booth remained untroubled for the remainder of the game and in the 88th minute Trafford substitute Kingston Fligg tenaciously won two challenges out on the right and crossed for Tom Lawrence to net simply from 15 yards and complete the scoring.

Trafford are still rooted to the bottom of the league on four points but will be hoping that this victory will signal the start of a good run for the club, although they now face the daunting task of entertaining league favourites Bury on Tuesday, kick off 7-45 p.m.