Match Report

ATHERTON COLLIERIES 3 TRAFFORD 0

Trafford’s glorious FA Cup run came to an end on Tuesday night when they were defeated 3-0 at Atherton Collieries in their Third Qualifying Round Replay.

Tom Baker’s side started confidently and after Scott Sephton shot wide following an 11th minute corner, Ryan Brooke saw his shot from the edge of the area saved on the line by Harvey Bardsley after the home keeper scurried back towards his goal.

Harry Norris then volleyed over after Dave Worrall floated a cross beyond the far post but the large contingent of travelling supporters were stunned in the 26th minute when Colls took the lead completely against the run of play, Kielan Adams breaking down the left and driving a wicked low cross that Brad Byrne had the misfortune to run into his own goal.

The remainder of the first half saw Trafford once again dominating possession without troubling Bardsley and the teams went in at the interval with Colls rather fortunate to be ahead.

The second half began with Baker’s Boys pouring forward in attack after attack with Bile Ahmed leading the way with some scintillating runs down the left.

Brad Byrne saw his shot from 15 yards blocked by a home defender and then Luke Sephton fired wide from just inside the penalty area.

In the 66th minute Kyle Worsley broke down the right but shot wastefully into the side-netting and two minutes later, when Trafford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Colls penalty area, Worsley curled the ball agonisingly over the crossbar.

It was all Trafford and an equaliser looked inevitable but in the 72nd minute they squandered another golden opportunity when substitute Brad Njine’s low drive from close range was held by Bardsley.

Dillon Edmondson’s snapshot was parried by Bardsley as the onslaught continued but in the 86th minute, and again completely against the run of play, Colls doubled their lead when Kielan Adams outstripped the Trafford defence on the left and poked the ball through the advancing Connor Beard’s legs.

To make matters worse, and to show what a cruel game football can be, Liam Sheppard broke clear in the 89th minute and blasted the ball past Beard to give an unreal final score line of 3-0 and put Colls through to the Fourth Qualifying Round in which they will face AFC Fylde.

Trafford will be left to reflect on wasted goal scoring opportunities in this game but in reality they should have won the first tie on Saturday when they allowed Colls to equalise in the 90th minute.