Season: 2025-2026

2025-2026

Ashton United vs Trafford FC

Trafford’s season of woe continued on Tuesday night when they were beaten on sudden death penalties at Ashton United in their Manchester Premier Cup Second Round Tie.

Tom Baker’s side played some superb football but just lacked that final pass with Brad Byrne firing over from the left and Prosper Imar seeing his header tipped over by Jordan Eastham in a defence dominated first half.

Ashton centre back Dylan Cogill headed a right wing corner just over in the 50th minute and substitute Darius Osei cut inside Jack Higginbottom shortly afterwards but was denied by a fine reflex save by Sam Booth.

A dipping free kick by Trafford midfielder Taylor Dyson in the 78th minute was held by Eastham and, as the hosts pushed forward in the closing stages, Sam Booth performed heroics once more to thwart Osei from point blank range.

With the score standing at 0-0 after ninety minutes, the game went straight to penalties and Trafford made the perfect start when Sam Booth saved brilliantly from Sean Newton and Alex Byrne.

However, they then squandered two golden opportunities to win the tie when Isaac Noble and Prosper Imar saw their spot kicks saved and when the penalties went to ‘sudden death’ Lee Rick had the misfortune to see Jordan Eastham throw himself to his right to parry the shot.

Despite this defeat, Tom Baker’s side emerged from the game with great credit as they played the neater, more creative football, and they can approach Saturday’s vital league match at home to Witton Albion with renewed confidence as they strive to move off the bottom of the NPL West Division table.

Ashton United

0 vs 0

Trafford FC

Scott Sephton

Trafford FC vs Congleton Town

Trafford suffered a late, late heartbreak when a goal by substitute Matthew Gillan in the seventh minute of injury time gave the visitors a share of the points.

Tom Baker’s side started brightly and after just five minutes a cross by Kieron Molloy was volleyed just wide by Sean Higgins.

Congleton’s pacey forward duo Ebou Badjie and Remi Raymond began to cause problems for the home defence and in the 26th minute the latter struck a fierce free kick form 25 yards that was brilliantly pushed past the upright by Sam Booth.

Matt Davies lashed a shot high and wide as Trafford fought for the opener but a defence dominated first half ended with the score goal-less.

Sean Higgins nodded well over as Kieron Molloy made another quick break down the left flank and then Charlie Frost glanced a header just wide in the 50th minute.

Three minutes later Baker’s Boys stormed ahead when Dana Amaral arrived at the back post to head down and into the roof of the net.

Tom Hampton almost snatched an immediate equaliser for Town when he poked a shot against the crossbar from just six yards but Trafford were now on top and pushing forward in search of a second goal.

Matt Davies saw a shot from close range blocked, Brad Byrne fired wide and then Scott Sephton, impressing in the anchor role in midfield, rifled a drive inches over from 25 yards.

In the 72nd minute Matt Davies volleyed agonisingly over following another great run down the left flank by Kieron Molloy and then substitute Prosper Imar looked certain to score but was denied by Town keeper Dave Parton.

Town substitute Harry Motley fizzed a shot just wide of the near post following a quick short corner but three minutes into injury time Dana Amaral wasted another good chance to seal the points when he screwed his shot wide after good approach play by Imar.

With just seconds remaining on the clock, Town launched another long ball into the Trafford penalty area, skipper Harry Norris cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Gillan reacted first to strike a crisp half-volley past Sam Booth and into the bottom left hand corner.

Despite this heart-breaking finale, Trafford can take great heart from a performance full of character, determination and skill, as they dominated the game for long spells and deserved to collect all three points. And with 22 games still remaining in the season, there is still everything to play for.

Trafford FC

1 vs 1

Congleton Town

Wigan Town vs Trafford FC Reserves

Wigan Town 0 vs 10

TFC Reserves

Bootle vs Trafford FC

Trafford fell to yet another single goal defeat on Saturday, a Jayden Sergeant goal after just four minutes giving the Merseysiders their victory.

Manager Tom Baker made four changes to the team that had been narrowly defeated by Vauxhall Motors the previous week but his side made a nightmare start when Sergeant received a pass from out on the right and, in acres of space, fired past Sam Booth and into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later Matt Davies volleyed wastefully over from 15 yards in the visitors’ first meaningful attack but it was Bootle who were the dominant force with Sam Booth twice saving to thwart Matt Fenton and Jack McGowan.

A rather scrappy first half came to a close with dangerman McGowan curling a shot just wide from the right.

Substitute Kieron Molloy was brought on for the second half in place of Henry Brown and Trafford immediately upped their game, Charlie Frost blasting a shot from 18 yards that was parried by Bootle keeper Tony Thompson and Molloy lifting a volley onto the roof of the net.

At the other end, a glancing header by McGowan was comfortably held by Sam Booth before Thompson held a 25 yard drive by Trafford midfielder Taylor Dyson.

Bootle were now still slightly on top and a brilliant last ditch tackle by Trafford skipper Harry Norris in the 74th minute denied Stephen Edmondson as the Bootle substitute was about to pounce.

Sam Booth produced a magnificent save at point blank range as McGowan broke clear and then Will Russ looked certain to make it two for Bootle but fired wide of the near post.

Trafford battled gamely to the end but were unable to make inroads in to a home defence that was superbly marshalled by centre backs Matthew Fenton and Tom Hannigan.

This loss means that Trafford have lost ten of their thirteen defeats by a single goal but are yet to record a defensive clean sheet.

Baker’s Boys now have two crucial home games on consecutive Saturday’s as they attempt to climb off the bottom of the NPL West Division table, entertaining Congleton Town and Witton Albion, both games kicking off at 3 p.m.

Bootle

1 vs 0

Trafford FC

Trafford FC Reserves vs Barnton FC Res.

TFC Reserves

2 vs 0 Barnton FC Res.

Lee Rick

Trafford FC vs Vauxhall Motors

Trafford slumped to their first defeat under new manager Tom Baker as Motors veteran striker Kevin Ellison came off the bench to snatch an 83rd minute winner.

Baker made two changes to the side that had performed so brilliantly at Stafford Rangers the previous week, Prosper Imar replacing Brad Byrne and Ben Horne coming in for the suspended Harry Norris.

Both teams started brightly with Trafford striker Charlie Frost impressing for the hosts and left winger Kyle Sambor causing problems for the visitors.

Despite this, both defences were on top for most of the first half, Trafford keeper Sam Booth comfortably holding a Sambor free kick in the 16th minute and Reece Trueman holding a Frost drive at the second attempt five minutes later.

Tom Baker made two changes to his line-up at half-time, replacing Ben Horne and Prosper Imar with Mackena Bradshaw and Henry Brown, and within three minutes of the restart this move paid off, Charlie Frost advancing on the left to fire past Trueman and inside the far post.

Kyle Sambor flashed a shot across the face of the Trafford goal as Motors began to dominate and they notched a deserved equaliser in the 66th minute when Sambor crossed from the left and Conor Harwood headed powerfully past Sam Booth from eight yards.

Dangerman Sambor then rounded Booth but thankfully shot wide of the far post and in the 76th minute Trafford midfielder Taylor Dyson rifled a 25 yard drive inches past the left hand upright.

A great move down the left ended with a close range effort by Matt Davies being cleared off the Motors goal-line before disaster struck for the hosts in the 83rd minute when the visitors 46 year old striker Kevin Ellison, introduced to the fray just minutes earlier, netted at the back post after Michael Grogan headed a deep cross into his path.

Trafford poured forward in search of the equaliser but despite an almighty goalmouth scramble deep into injury time were unable to break down the well-drilled Motors defence and so fell to a 2-1 defeat that keeps them rooted to the foot of the NPL West Division table.

However, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they travel to play Bootle FC, kick off 3 p.m.