NEW MILLS 0, TRAFFORD 5

NEW MILLS FC 0 – 5 TRAFFORD FC - with thanks to our roving reporter tonight, Tom Kilroy

TRAFFORD’S pre-season programme continued on Tuesday evening with a comprehensive victory away at North West Counties side New Mills.

Manager Danny Caldecott again used the full squad available to him, his starting XI containing three youth team players plus trialist Yaw Osei who has played professionally in Scotland. It was Osei who took the game straight to New Mills when a well-worked one-two with Mike Burke, in only the second minute of the game, brought the best out of the host’s goalkeeper.

Trafford took the lead on 16 minutes when an Alfie Belcher corner was headed home by Will Hall. An identical goal was scored by Osei, heading home another Belcher corner shortly before half time.

In the second period, an early New Mills chance was well saved by young ‘keeper Niall Jordan, after which Trafford took control. That man Osei was again involved, this time as provider – his inch perfect cross was slotted home by Mike Burke. Ollie Ford made it 4-0 just after the hour with a curler from just outside the box, whereupon Caldecott made numerous changes. Substitute strikers Max Hazeldine and Tom Bentham both had the ball in the net: Hazeldine’s 65th minute effort was disallowed for offside, but Bentham’s 6 minutes later did count. The big No.9 finished off his own move when he ran from just inside the New Mills half, evaded two defenders, beat the ‘keeper then netted the rebound off the post.

In the final moments, one of the New Mills players suffered an unfortunate injury and the game ended soon after with a handsome win for Trafford. Unbeaten so far in four pre-season games, Manager Caldecott will be hoping such good form continues into the season – you can check on progress again this Saturday at Shawe View (3pm) when Ashton United are the visitors.