Season: 2025-2026

2025-2026

Trafford FC vs Bootle

Trafford produced a desperately disappointing performance in their penultimate game of the season, losing 3-1 against promotion chasing Bootle.

The visitors were gifted the lead after just four minutes when Ollie Southern’s attempted header to goalkeeper Charlie Brier was seized upon by Ben Hodkinson who had the simplest of tasks in guiding the ball home.

Seven minutes later Hodkinson almost made it two when he collected a weak clearance by the home defence and saw his low drive held at full length by Brier.

Brier then produced another fine save to push a Lewis Earl header against the upright before denying Jack McGowan as the Bootle striker broke clear.

The first half came to a close with Charlie Brier in action once again, producing another great save to parry a powerful shot by Ryan Beigan.

The second half was similar to the first with Bootle in complete control and only goalkeeper Brier emerging with any credit for the disjointed Trafford side.

The 18 year old custodian, on loan from Blackpool, denied Courtney Duffus with a block from close range and then thwarted Ben Hodkinson once more with a great save from point blank range.

In the 58th minute Bootle doubled their advantage when Duffus broke clear in the inside left channel and coolly placed the ball just inside the far post.

In the 70th minute Brier pulled down Ryan Beigan following a mix-up with Scott Sephton but redeemed himself with an incredible save from Ben Hodkinson’s powerful spot kick, flinging himself to his left to deflect the ball against the crossbar and to safety.

Another superb reflex save in the 76th minute denied McGowan and in the 87th minute Trafford were thrown a life-line they hardly deserved when Kyle Worsley flighted a left wing corner to the far post where Scott Sephton rose to head past Tony Thompson and make it 2-1.

However, a comeback never materialised, and in the 90thminute Bootle were awarded another penalty for a trip by Sephton and this time Hodkinson made no mistake, driving the ball hard and low inside the left hand post.

Substitute Isaac Modi almost snatched a consolation goal for Tom Baker’s side when he struck a thunderous drive from 25 yards that cannoned back into play off the crossbar but the game ended with Bootle fully deserving the three points that keep them just one point outside the play-off positions.

Trafford’s torrid season comes to a close on Saturday when they travel to play Congleton Town at the Cleric Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.

Trafford FC

1 vs 3

Bootle

Winstanley Warriors vs Trafford FC Reserves

Winstanley Warriors 4 vs 3

TFC Reserves

Trafford FC vs Newcastle Town

Town’s veteran manager Neil Baker came out on top in Saturday’s ‘Battle of the Baker’s’, a 91st minute goal by Harry Bower giving his side a 1-0 victory over namesake Tom’s Trafford.

The visitors edged the opening minutes with Tim Grice heading just wide and Oliver Ritchie flighting a free kick inches over.

Trafford gradually began to assume control with a long range shot by Bile Ahmed being comfortably held by Lucas Knight before Ahmed brilliantly skipped past Town defender Roman Allen but fired wastefully over.

In the 27th minute Trafford should have taken the lead when Matt Davies fed Ahmed who delayed his shot from just eight yards allowing a Town defender to block.

Kyle Worsley then volleyed into the side-netting as Tom Baker’s side continued to dominate possession and an intriguing first half came to a close with Grice firing over from 10 yards following a quick break down the left by the visitors.

In the 55th minute Trafford squandered another great chance to take the lead when Kyle Worlsey whipped a wonderful cross over from the right but young striker James Butterworth completely miskicked from just six yards.

Newcastle were looking more and more dangerous on the break and after Lewis Brown headed a corner just wide, Trafford left back Harry Evers produced two brilliant last-ditch tackles to deny dangerman Harry Bower.

Trafford keeper Charlie Brier saved superbly to thwart Tim Grice and Will Arnold and in the 83rd minute another piercing cross by Kyle Worsley was headed agonisingly wide by James Butterworth.

Then, in the 89th minute, midfielder Brad Byrne should have put his team ahead when he collected the ball just ten yards out, stepped inside Lewis Brown but sliced his shot wide with just Lucas Knight to beat.

In the 91st minute disaster struck for Trafford when skipper Harry Norris bravely blocked a drive by Josh Bowden but saw the ball fall invitingly into the path of Harry Bowden who coolly placed his shot inside the far post from 15 yards.

The final whistle signalled yet another game that Trafford should have earned at least a point, but once again were made to pay for missed chances, and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Bootle at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.

Trafford FC

0 vs 1

Newcastle Town

Avro vs Trafford FC

Former midfielder Ryley Smith came back to haunt his old club, scoring a 61st minute wonder goal to give Avro a 2-1 victory and effectively seal Trafford’s relegation to the North West Counties League.

After a cautious start, Trafford stormed ahead in the 9th minute when a lightning fast break down the left ended with a James Butterworth cross that Sam Davidson spectacularly headed past his own keeper.

Darrhyl Mason struck the foot of the post following some slack defending by Trafford and more poor marking on the half hour mark allowed Sam Davidson to atone for his earlier error and strike a fine low drive past Charlie Brier and into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

Defences were on top for the remainder of the first half with Trafford skipper Harry Norris heading over from a Kyle Worsley free kick in time added on.

Trafford were missing the influence of central midfielder Scott Sephton due to injury and with Avro controlling that part of the pitch, the visitors struggled to play with any cohesion or pattern.

Harry Salt fired past the post from just 12 yards as Avro pushed forward and then home left back Adam Owen crashed a great shot just over with Trafford once more affording their opponents far too much space.

However, in the 58th minute Harry Evers gained possession out on the left flank, bursting forward to outpace the Avro defence but then firing wide with just Cameron Mason to beat.

Three minutes later Harry Norris bravely deflected a thunderous drive by Ryley Smith wide, but from the resulting corner, Trafford fell asleep once more allowing Smith to collect the ball and blast a magnificent angled drive past Brier and into the far top corner.

Two minutes later Trafford sensed that it wasn’t to be their day when midfielder Brad Byrne saw his superb long range effort cannon back into play off the Avro crossbar.

Kyle Worsley then struck two free kicks from good positions wide of the target as Trafford desperately sought the equaliser but it wasn’t to be and so Tom Baker’s side fell to yet another single goal defeat in their sorry season.

Avro

2 vs 1

Trafford FC

Trafford FC Reserves vs Pilkington u23s

TFC Reserves

0 vs 3 Pilkington u23s

Trafford FC vs Runcorn Linnets

Trafford’s hopes of avoiding relegation were dealt a severe blow on Saturday when, despite dominating their illustrious opponents for long spells, they fell to devastating 2-1 defeat.

Isaac Modi and Kyle Worsley went close to giving Tom Baker’s side the lead in the opening minutes but Runcorn showed their pedigree with a fine move in the 13th minute, Markell Foulds breaking down the right and pulling the ball across to Noah Roberts who rifled his shot into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Trafford skipper Harry Norris saw his header deflected wide following a Worsley free kick but then was fortuitous when his wayward pass across his own penalty area was intercepted by Noah Roberts who thankfully fired wide with just Charlie Brier to beat.

In the 32nd minute Trafford fought their way back on to level terms, Isaac Modi whipping a great cross in from the left that Bile Ahmed neatly glanced past Yusuf Mersin from close range.

Modi then skipped past two defenders and flashed a superb low cross across the face of the Linnets goal but no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Trafford were absolutely magnificent in the second half with Kyle Worsley at the centre of many of their moves and in the 52nd minute his goal bound shot was brilliantly blocked by Linnets defender Peter Wylie.

Worsley then cut in from the right but curled his shot over and then wasted a good opportunity when he delayed his shot from a good position and was forced wide by the well organised visitors defence.

In the 57th minute Bile Ahmed missed a gilt edged chance to put the hosts ahead when he shot wastefully into the side-netting from just ten yards after great work by Mackena Bradshaw.

Ahmed then ghosted past Linnets right back Joe Ferguson but crossed weakly into the hands of Mersin and the onslaught continued with Kyle Worsley brilliantly dancing past two opponents but seeing his goal bound shot cleared off the line by Jacques Welsh.

Mackena Bradshaw struck the foot of the post after cutting in down the left and both Charlie Frost and Bile Ahmed saw further chances beaten out by the hard pressed Linnets defence.

Then, with just three minutes remaining of the ninety, Harry Norris was adjudged to have fouled substitute Brendan O’Brien and the visitors were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and to the left of centre. Harry McGee stepped forward and curled an exquisite shot over the defensive wall and into the top corner past the despairing dive of Charlie Brier to send the large contingent of travelling supporters into raptures.

Harry Norris headed wide as Trafford desperately sought an equaliser and Baker’s Boys suffered more heartbreak when Jack Sloan was controversially shown two yellow cards, in the space of seconds, just before the final whistle.

Despite this defeat, Trafford emerged from the game with great credit, having been the better side for most of the game, but unfortunately they were unable to turn their superiority into goals due to their profligacy in the Linnets penalty area.

Trafford FC

1 vs 2

Runcorn Linnets

Scott Sephton

Stalybridge Celtic vs Trafford FC

Trafford’s mini-revival came to an end on Saturday when they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of third placed Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold.

With three wins from their last four games, Tom Baker’s side started confidently, dominating possession against a side that had been unbeaten in their last eleven games.

Despite their superiority, however, the visitors were unable to carve out any clear-cut openings with their only half-chance falling to teenage striker James Butterworth on the half hour mark when he glanced a cross by debutant Isaac Modi well wide.

In the 37th minute, and against the run of play, Celtic took the lead, Ellis Horan curling a free kick that Trafford keeper Charlie Brier did well to push against the upright but then seeing Jack Irlam react the quickest to turn the rebound home from four yards.

Baker’s Boys responded positively to this setback with Butterworth breaking clear on the left but firing over and then midfielder Scott Sephton rifling a 25 yard drive just past the left hand post.

Trafford’s second half performance was disappointing as they allowed Celtic to dominate for long spells, Andy Scarisbrick and Max Leonard both going close with long range efforts.

And in the 65th minute the hosts doubled their lead when Ollie Southern tangled with Ruben Jerome and the ball fell kindly for Ellis Horan who strode forward and cracked a fine shot inside the far post past the helpless Brier.

Kyle Worlsey was a constant threat out on the right flank for Trafford, blasting a shot over in the 68th minute and then playing a glorious pass across the face of the Celtic goal that unfortunately evaded his team-mates.

Isaac Modi prodded a corner well wide, Scott Sephton shot first time past the right hand post and then skipper Harry Norris saw his goal-bound header from a Worsley corner cleared off the line by Kyle Brownhill.

But despite this late pressure Trafford were unable to reduce the arrears and so fell to yet another away defeat, having recorded just one victory on their travels this season, at Stafford Rangers on November 8th.

Baker’s Boys must now put this disappointment behind them and focus on their home fixture on Good Friday when they entertain fourth placed Runcorn Linnets, kick off 3 p.m.