CHADDERTON 3, TRAFFORD 5

With the new season just over a week away, Trafford’s preparations continued with an entertaining but error strewn 5-3 victory at Chadderton on Tuesday night.
The hosts were on top in the opening minutes with Rob Flynn and Sean Kgwakgwa both firing just wide.
However, Trafford took the lead with their first meaningful attack, Mike Burke holding off a home defender and placing the ball past Morgan Bacon.
Bacon then denied Tom Bentham at the near post following a left wing corner before a superb defence splitting pass by Jack Sloan allowed Yaw Osei to advance and crack a great low shot into the far corner.
Two minutes later Bacon failed to hold Osei’s powerful drive from 20 yards and Mike Burke pounced to rifle the ball into the roof of the net and make it 3-0 and in the 26th minute a woeful back pass by Chadderton midfielder Jamie Sinnott set Matty Barlow free to slide the ball home and make it four.
In the 34th minute Chadderton reduced the arrears when Adam Dale powered a header past Niall Jordan following a right wing corner and in the dying seconds of the first half Yaw Osei should have made it five but somehow failed to convert from close range.
Despite the three goal deficit, Chadderton played with tremendous spirit throughout the second half but were helped somewhat by a harsh refereeing decision in the 62nd minute when Tom Bentham was adjudged to have handled and Jordan Schofield stepped forward to coolly convert the resultant penalty.
In the 71st minute the hosts struck again, Trafford skipper Astley Mulholland carelessly misplacing a back pass and the impressive Mauro Mendes pouncing to fire past Jordan.
Chadderton pushed forward in search of an equaliser but Trafford nerves were calmed in the 78th minute when Demitrius Rhami saw his fierce drive blocked by Bacon with Alfie Belcher reacting first to slot the ball home.
The fleet footed Rhami then almost made it six with an audacious chip from 40 yards that flew inches wide and the final whistle arrived to signal the end of an entertaining game characterised by poor defending.
On Saturday, Trafford complete their preparations for the forthcoming season when they entertain NPL Premier Division side Atherton Collieries at the Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.