Trafford fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat in the First Leg of the Foxall Matthews Community Cup at Valley Road on Saturday.

Flixton were the sharper, pacier team throughout but the first chance fell to the visitors in the 5th minute when a Kyle Worsley drive from 20 yards was held by Cam Mason. 

Cian Donohue then volleyed over following a poor clearance by Trafford skipper Harry Norris before Flixton’s effervescent left winger Uche Eze fired his team ahead in the 11th minute when he cut in from his flank and cracked a fine low drive past Connor Beard and inside the far post.

Sean Higgins twice blocked goal bound shots as Flixtoncontinued to dominate and Beard produced a fine save to tip a Lewis Byrne thunderbolt onto the crossbar.

In the 25th minute Trafford fell further behind when Byrne miscued a shot from 15 yards that struck Fin Stanyer and flew past the wrong-footed Beard.

A Scott Sephton header was pushed past the post by Cam Mason as Trafford sought a way back into the game and they were rewarded in the 34th minute when a great low cross by Kyle Worsley was tapped home at the back post by debutant Ryan Brooke.

Five minutes later, the roles were reversed when Brooke cleverly fed Worsley who struck a tremendous first time drive past Mason and into the top corner to make it 2-2.

The second half belonged entirely to Flixton and in the 50thminute Matty Cooper, replacing Connor Beard at half-time, produced a magnificent double save to deny Eze at point blank range.

Seven minutes later Flixton deservedly regained the lead when Lewis Byrne headed past Cooper after the ball had ricocheted off the right hand post.

Eze then missed another glorious opportunity when he broke clear but steered the ball past the far post whilst at the other end, in a rare Trafford attack, Luke Sephton wasted a great opportunity to equalise when he hesitated with keeper Mason in no man’s land and allowed a Flixton defender to clear.

Flixton were playing with a pace and intensity that Trafford were finding it difficult to match but with just three minutes remaining Tom Baker’s Boys squandered another great chance of an equaliser when George Unsworth pulled the ball back from the left, Sean Higgins blasted his shot goal wards and Cam Mason produced a brilliant reflex save to turn it over the bar.

A fascinating game played in front of a bumper crowd came to a close with Flixton fully deserving their victory and they go into the Second Leg at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium this coming Saturday with that slender single goal advantage.

Kick off is 2 p.m. but spectators are advised to arrive early as another huge crowd is anticipated.

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