Season: 2024-2025

Trafford FC vs Bootle

TRAFFORD’s first home game of the season ended with a narrow 0-1 defeat to Bootle FC this evening (Tuesday 13th August).

The visitors had a man sent off after roughly half an hour, and despite a really good performance from Trafford in the 1st half, being down to 10-men seemed to inspire the Merseysiders to grind out the victory.

Trafford were out-thought and out-fought as ten-man Bootle produced a magnificent second half performance to walk away with the points on Tuesday night.
Following two excellent victories at Albion Sports and Congleton, Karl Marginson’s team started confidently but were unable to create any clear-cut chances against the well-drilled Bootle defence.
However, in the 19th minute the visitors were reduced to ten men when centre back Jonathan Spittle was sent off for an off the ball incident that left Rio Clegg nursing a bloody nose.
Isaac Noble saw his shot deflected over , Brad Byrne rifled a shot just wide from 30 yards and Rio Clegg curled a drive inches over as Trafford dominated.
William Bell volleyed over from 15 yards as Trafford failed to clear a Bootle free kick and as half-time approached the hosts Mike Burke struck a free kick over and Hilal Khan’s 18 yard drive was deflected onto the roof of the net.
Six minutes into injury time at the end of the first half the home fans were stunned when Brad Byrne carelessly conceded possession forty yards out and Bootle danger-man Michael Burkey struck a spectacular first time effort that flew over Sam Booth and into the top corner to give the visitors an unlikely lead.
The second half was a disaster for Trafford as Bootle’s ten men were well on top and Tom Peterson should have made it two in the 48th minute but blasted his penalty kick well over after Jack Higginbottom had fouled Burkey.
At the other end Rio Clegg was unlucky when he struck the right hand post after breaking down the right and in the 53rd minute Burkey almost scored a replica of his first goal when his shot from 35 yards was tipped over by Sam Booth.
Despite using all five substitutes, Trafford were unable to break down the superbly organised Bootle defence and, in fact, it was the visitors who went closest to increasing their lead in the closing stages when Conor Harwood just failed to connect cleanly with a low cross from the right and Ben Hodgkinson fired into the side-netting after the hosts gave the ball away once again.
Trafford were desperately disappointed both with the result and performance but they must now turn their focus on Saturday’s FA Cup Preliminary Round Tie in which they host Emley FC at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.

Trafford are next in action this Saturday at home, in the Emirates FA Cup versus Emley FC, kick off 3pm.

Trafford FC

0 vs 1

Bootle

Congleton Town vs Trafford FC

Trafford Open The Season With 3-0 Win

Trafford kick off the new NPL season in style with a 3-0 win at Congleton; Rio Clegg, Mike Burke, and Eoin Hogan the goalscorers. Manager Karl Marginson had the following to say about the performance of his players:

“An all round really good performance with a fantastic work ethic that enabled our players to overcome a difficult test and play some great football to boot. To a man they were magnificent. It’s very early days and the tests will keep coming thick and fast, but we’ll accept any challenge that’s in front of us and give it our best.”

Trafford made the perfect start to the 2024-25 league season on Saturday when they travelled to Congleton Town and came away with a marvellous 3-0 victory.
There was controversy straight from the kick off as Trafford striker Rio Clegg was taken out by Town keeper Ayrton Best but instead of brandishing a red card, referee Whittington surprisingly waved play-on.
It was all Trafford in those opening minutes with Clegg breaking clear but being denied by a last ditch tackle by Callum Stringer and Isaac Noble firing into the side-netting.
Trafford keeper Sam Booth saved from Brian Barton as Town settled into the game but the visitors deservedly took the lead in the 24th minute when danger-man Clegg broke clear down the right and clinically placed his shot past the advancing Best.
The hosts were a constant threat from set pieces due to their sheer physical size and in the 30th minute Booth produced a superb point blank save to thwart Josh Ryder following a left wing corner.
Jack Higginbottom cleared a Daniel Higginbottom header off the line as another corner slipped through Booth’s hands and on the stroke of half-time, Isaac Noble almost made it two when he headed just wide following great work on the left by Matty Lusakueno.
The opening minutes of the second half were scrappy and fragmented as both teams repeatedly gave the ball away.
Jordan Fagbola volleyed wide in the 58th minute and five minutes later Trafford doubled their advantage when Rio Clegg found Matty Lusakueno down the left and the ball was played across for Mike Burke to blast his shot into the top corner from 10 yards.
The hosts pushed forward in an attempt to reduce the deficit and Sam Booth was in action once more when he saved brilliantly at the feet of Max McCarthy before denying George Sankey in the 72nd minute.
Isaac Noble produced a delightful turn on the edge of the Town area before firing just over and in the third minute of time-added-on Trafford substitutes Damola Sotona and Eoin Hogan linked sublimely down the left with the latter cracking a great drive into the top corner to make it 3-0.
The final whistle signalled a tremendous victory for a Trafford side who had demonstrated incredible team work and energy throughout and a steely determination to succeed.
Post-match, Trafford Manager Karl Marginson had the following to say about the performance of his players:
“An all round really good performance with a fantastic work ethic that enabled our players to overcome a difficult test and play some great football to boot. To a man they were magnificent. It’s very early days and the tests will keep coming thick and fast, but we’ll accept any challenge that’s in front of us and give it our best.”
Marginson’s side must now concentrate their efforts on Tuesday night’s NPL West Division fixture against highly fancied Bootle FC at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 7-45pm.

Congleton Town

1 vs 3

Trafford FC

Albion Sports vs Trafford FC

Trafford edge through to FA Cup Preliminary Round with magnificent victory at Bradford

Trafford edged through to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup following Friday night’s 2-1 victory over Albion Sports in Bradford.
Karl Marginson’s side made a confident start with Matty Morgan being denied a goal-scoring opportunity after just three minutes by a brilliant last ditch tackle by Paul Walker.

Morgan then wasted a free kick from 25 yards after a superb piece of skill by debutant Rio Clegg drew a foul and yellow card for Dominic Staunton and in the 25th minute Mike Burke rifled a 30 yard free kick just wide.
Two minutes later Burke squandered the best chance of the game so far when he fired wide at the back post following great work by Morgan down the right.

Jordan Fagbola headed a Sean Higgins cross just wide and midfielder Brad Byrne shot straight at goalkeeper Jordan Porter as Trafford dominated and they deservedly took the lead in the 41st minute with a superbly crafted goal, Hilal Khan feeding Matty Lusakueno who bamboozled the Albion defence and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Just sixty seconds later it was two, when Mike Burke dispossessed Luke Sharry and slipped the ball through to Matty Morgan who coolly placed his shot past the advancing Porter and into the bottom corner.

Morgan then squandered a glorious opportunity to make it three when he broke clear but chipped the ball wide with Porter stranded.
At half-time, the hosts made three substitutions and altered their tactics, playing numerous long balls out of defence and adopting a much more physical and aggressive attitude.

Trafford keeper Sam Booth produced a fine save to thwart Paul Walker and Albion midfielder Fernando Moke struck a great drive from 30 yards that dipped just over the crossbar.

Nathan Cartman headed straight at Sam Booth who then parried a rasping free kick by Luke Sherry as Albion poured forward.
Lewis Waddington struck a thunderous drive against the underside of the crossbar as Trafford appeared to tire and manager Marginson introduced three substitutes to freshen his side.

Despite this, Albion continued to push forward and in the 88th minute a cross from the left brushed the arm of Trafford defender Jordan Fagbola. Sumaili Cisse stepped forward to plant the resultant spot kick past Booth and set up a grandstand finish.

Booth saved brilliantly once again to deny T’Nique Fishley as the seconds ticked away and the final whistle finally arrived to signal a magnificent, hard-fought victory for the Mancunians.

Trafford play host to the winners of the Emley v FC St. Helens tie in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on 17th August, but now turn their attentions to their first NPL fixture this coming Saturday when they travel to play Congletion Town, kick off 3 p.m.