Match Report

The sending off of Jack Sloan in the 50th minute following a rash and reckless challenge proved to be the turning point as Trafford fell to a 2-1 defeat at Wythenshawe Town on New Year’s Day.

The opening stages were scrappy and lacking in goalmouth incident as both teams struggled to settle on a difficult playing surface.

In the 15th minute, however, Trafford striker Matt Davies burst down the right and fired the ball across the face of the Town goal, debutant Bile Ahmed just failing to apply the finishing touch.

Home winger Ash Leather curled a free kick just wide on the half hour mark but it wasn’t until the 37th minute that a shot was actually on target, Trafford’s Henry Brown firing straight at Greg Hall from 20 yards.

The game burst into life in the 41st minute when Bile Ahmed sped down the left flank and crossed beyond the far post. Harry Leigh gained possession, returning a low cross to Ahmed who bundled the ball home from close range.

Trafford’s joy was short lived as they dozed off in time added on at the end of the first half, Demi Rhami turning the ball past Oliver Belliza from just eight yards after a cross from the left.

The second half was just five minutes old when Town played a long ball out of defence towards Ash Leather. Trafford wing back Jack Sloan carelessly and foolishly scythed down the speedy winger, referee Hussain immediately brandishing a red card and reducing the visitors to ten men.

Shortly afterwards a shot from 20 yards by Domaine Rouse was touched onto the post by Oliver Belliza and then in the 61st minute the hosts stormed ahead when Trafford failed to clear a cross from the left and Wealth DaSilva pounced on the loose ball to fire coolly and clinically into the bottom corner.

Trafford’s cause was hampered by injuries to Henry Brown and Scott Sephton with substitutes Brad Byrne and Isaac Noble taking their places but despite this setback the visitors battled gamely to the end.

Isaac Noble almost burst through in the 84th minute but was denied by a last ditch clearance by Nathan Whalley and Trafford won several free kicks on the fringes of the Town penalty area that came to nothing.

This defeat leaves Trafford rooted to the foot of the NPL West Division table but with seventeen games still remaining there is still a long way to go.

Tom Baker’s team are next in action on Saturday 10th January when they entertain Flixton at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3p.m. This is a friendly fixture in which all gate receipts will go towards the Trafford Veterans charity. Admission is £3 adults, £2 concessions with children going free.

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