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Sat 14 Oct 2023 · Northern Premier League - West
City of Liverpool FC
Trafford F.C.
2
2
CITY OF LIVERPOOL 2 TRAFFORD 2
Dave Law15 Oct 2023 - 07:29
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Bentham's Boys let two goal lead slip
Trafford threw away a two goal lead for the second successive game when they were pegged back by City of Liverpool in an intriguing NPL West Division encounter on Saturday.
Stand in boss Tom Bentham, deputising after the shock departure of Danny Caldecott, made two changes to the team that had drawn at Newcastle a fortnight ago, bringing in midfielder Danny Lambert for his debut in place of Leighton Egan, and replacing Sean Higgins with Will Hall.
And Bentham’s Boys produced their finest football of the season so far in a first half that they totally dominated with some scintillating attacking play.
Skipper Astley Mulholland, assistant to Bentham on the day, and new-boy Lambert were superb in central midfield, and in the 7th minute the latter fed Matty Barlow whose 30 yard drive was just off target.
Eight minutes later Trafford took the lead when the hosts half cleared a corner, Lambert slipped the ball through to Bentham and he crashed a magnificent 20 yard drive past Calvin Hare via the underside of the crossbar.
City’s giant striker Josh Quarless then struck a 25 yard free kick that was saved at full length by Brad Rose but it was Trafford who were the dominant force and they doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Alfie Belcher drilled a low corner from the right to the near post and Will Hall arrived to flash a superb volley past Hare and into the roof of the net.
New signing Eddie Servuts then ended a mazy run past three defenders with a shot that flew inches wide of the upright and in the 45th minute Matty Barlow was desperately unlucky to see his low angled drive rebound off the foot of the post and into goalkeeper Hare’s hands.
Despite dominating the first half, Trafford were dealt a devastating blow two minutes into injury time when City pulled a goal back completely against the run of play, Callum Schorah cracking a great drive from 30 yards that the valiant Brad Rose just failed to claw to safety.
This goal obviously raised the spirits of the home side and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser for long spells throughout the second half.
Trafford, however, defended magnificently with centre backs Will Hall and Harry Norris, and full backs Ally Brown and Jack Sloan, repelling everything that was thrown at them.
Brad Rose barely had a save to make and it appeared as though the visitors were heading for their first league win of the season when disaster struck in the 89th minute, dangerman Quarless floating a neat pass to the back post where Jawad Jebrim arrived to plant a close range volley into the bottom corner.
Just a minute later Jebrim had the ball in the back of the net again but was thankfully ruled offside and then with virtually the last kick of the match, Quarless set up substitute Danny Mitchley who blasted over from 15 yards.
A fascinating game ended with the spoils shared but Trafford ruefully reflecting on the incidents minutes before the half-time break when, instead of going in at half-time with a 3-0 lead they trooped off with a slender 2-1 margin.
Stand in boss Tom Bentham, deputising after the shock departure of Danny Caldecott, made two changes to the team that had drawn at Newcastle a fortnight ago, bringing in midfielder Danny Lambert for his debut in place of Leighton Egan, and replacing Sean Higgins with Will Hall.
And Bentham’s Boys produced their finest football of the season so far in a first half that they totally dominated with some scintillating attacking play.
Skipper Astley Mulholland, assistant to Bentham on the day, and new-boy Lambert were superb in central midfield, and in the 7th minute the latter fed Matty Barlow whose 30 yard drive was just off target.
Eight minutes later Trafford took the lead when the hosts half cleared a corner, Lambert slipped the ball through to Bentham and he crashed a magnificent 20 yard drive past Calvin Hare via the underside of the crossbar.
City’s giant striker Josh Quarless then struck a 25 yard free kick that was saved at full length by Brad Rose but it was Trafford who were the dominant force and they doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Alfie Belcher drilled a low corner from the right to the near post and Will Hall arrived to flash a superb volley past Hare and into the roof of the net.
New signing Eddie Servuts then ended a mazy run past three defenders with a shot that flew inches wide of the upright and in the 45th minute Matty Barlow was desperately unlucky to see his low angled drive rebound off the foot of the post and into goalkeeper Hare’s hands.
Despite dominating the first half, Trafford were dealt a devastating blow two minutes into injury time when City pulled a goal back completely against the run of play, Callum Schorah cracking a great drive from 30 yards that the valiant Brad Rose just failed to claw to safety.
This goal obviously raised the spirits of the home side and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser for long spells throughout the second half.
Trafford, however, defended magnificently with centre backs Will Hall and Harry Norris, and full backs Ally Brown and Jack Sloan, repelling everything that was thrown at them.
Brad Rose barely had a save to make and it appeared as though the visitors were heading for their first league win of the season when disaster struck in the 89th minute, dangerman Quarless floating a neat pass to the back post where Jawad Jebrim arrived to plant a close range volley into the bottom corner.
Just a minute later Jebrim had the ball in the back of the net again but was thankfully ruled offside and then with virtually the last kick of the match, Quarless set up substitute Danny Mitchley who blasted over from 15 yards.
A fascinating game ended with the spoils shared but Trafford ruefully reflecting on the incidents minutes before the half-time break when, instead of going in at half-time with a 3-0 lead they trooped off with a slender 2-1 margin.
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