Trafford were given a lesson in the art of finishing as they crashed out of the FA Trophy at the hands of a ruthless and impressive Ashton United side in their Third Qualifying Tie at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on Saturday.
After a rather scrappy opening, the visitors forged ahead in the 6th minute when James Hardy rounded off a slick move down the right with a neat header inside the far post from eight yards.
Three minutes later Trevon Bryon, on loan from Bolton Wanderers, made it two when he cut in from the right and unleashed a magnificent curling drive into the top corner from 25 yards.
Hardy whistled a drive across the face of the Trafford goal before Karl Marginson’s side created their first opening in the 25th minute, Rio Clegg turning neatly but seeing his shot blocked by Luke Burke.
Five minutes before half-time Trafford were thrown a lifeline when Rio Clegg was tripped by Sean Newton just inside the penalty area but saw his spot kick brilliantly saved by Conor O’Keefe at the foot of the left hand post.
Despite this setback, the hosts made a bright and confident start to the second half with Ryley Smith screwing a shot just wide after great work by skipper Harry Norris.
At the other end, Jack Higginbottom prevented a certain goal for the visitors with a brave block on the goal-line but was powerless in the 56th minute when another incisive move allowed James Hardy to head home unmarked from just six yards.
Bernardo Couto crashed a thunderbolt against the Trafford crossbar as the Robins threatened to run riot but Jerome Wright reduced the arrears in the 64th minute with a beautifully flighted free kick over the defensive wall and into the top corner.
Three minutes later the visitors struck again with yet another clinical and devastating move, substitute Jason Gilchrist turning the ball past Sam Booth from close range to make it 4-1.
Trafford continued to play their neat and composed football and Jordan Fagbola headed inches wide following a free kick from the left before Damola Sotona ended a mazy run with a powerful drive that was saved at full length by O’Keefe.
Manager Marginson made a quadruple substitution with twenty minutes remaining and in the first minute of injury time two of these, Rob Worrall and Kanye Nisbett, combined neatly, the latter clipping the ball past the advancing O’Keefe for Trafford’s second goal.
In the dying seconds, United struck again when Jay McCourt breezed into the home penalty area and swept a shot past Booth and into the far corner.
Despite this defeat, Trafford can take heart from a spirited performance against an impressive side that are currently in the play-off positions in the NPL Premier Division and they must now turn their attentions to Tuesdays home encounter against Mossley, kick off 7-45 p.m.
(Pictures by Luke Broadhurst, Trafford Media Team)