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Sat 23 Dec 2023 · Northern Premier League - West
Trafford F.C.Hednesford Town
1
0
TRAFFORD 1 HEDNESFORD TOWN 0
Dave Law24 Dec 2023 - 08:02
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Trafford edge closer to safety with hard fought victory
Trafford secured a vital single goal victory to edge closer to safety in a keenly contested, and at times controversial, encounter at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium.
Karl Marginson’s side made a bright start with some scintillating attacking play but failed to break down the well drilled Town defence.
And in the 10th minute the visitors almost snatched the lead when quicksilver winger Jai Verma broke down the left and crossed for Will Mellors-Blair to fire narrowly over from 10 yards.
Town were belying their lowly league position as they grew into the game with Dan Gyasi looking dangerous on the right and they went close again in the 21st minute when Mellors-Blair drove over after some sloppy play by Trafford.
Referee Pettitt was frustrating the home team and their vociferous supporters with some baffling decisions and Trafford had to wait until the 40th minute for their only chance of note in a disappointing first half, Eddie Servuts cracking a low drive from 20 yards that was deflected inches wide.
Seven minutes into the second half Trafford finally broke the deadlock, centre back Jordan Fagbola rising highest in the crowded penalty area to head a Tom Beckett corner past Kieran Boucher.
Town battled back spiritedly with Tom Thorley heading wide and Trafford keeper Sam Booth pushing a Jai Verma thunderbolt to safety.
In the 65th minute referee Pettitt drew further consternation from the home side when he awarded Town a penalty for an apparent push following a right wing corner but to Trafford’s relief Dan Gyasi carelessly and arrogantly chipped the ball past the left hand upright.
Manager Marginson introduced substitutes Matty Wolfenden and Matty Lusakueno into the action, the former immediately firing across the face of the goal.
Lusakueno wowed the crowd with a magical twenty minute cameo, making several electrifying runs down the left and being denied what looked like an obvious penalty in the 85th minute when he was floored by a Town defender. Unfortunately, Lusakueno was forced to leave the field following this challenge to be replaced by young Hilal Khan.
The visitors continued to push forward in search of the equaliser and in the 91st minute substitute Callum Niven broke clear down the middle but was denied by a brilliant match-winning save by Sam Booth.
The final whistle signalled an excellent but extremely hard fought victory for Marginson’s team. Speaking after the game, the Manager said: "I thought it was a really tough game. That isn't two bottom of the league teams. We kept the ball a little bit better than last week but they put us under immense pressure. It showed another side to our game to get another clean sheet, which is a real bonus. We just need to start taking more chances."
Trafford now face a very difficult game at high flying Avro on Boxing Day before entertaining Mossley at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on New Year’s Day, both game kicking off at 3 p.m.
Karl Marginson’s side made a bright start with some scintillating attacking play but failed to break down the well drilled Town defence.
And in the 10th minute the visitors almost snatched the lead when quicksilver winger Jai Verma broke down the left and crossed for Will Mellors-Blair to fire narrowly over from 10 yards.
Town were belying their lowly league position as they grew into the game with Dan Gyasi looking dangerous on the right and they went close again in the 21st minute when Mellors-Blair drove over after some sloppy play by Trafford.
Referee Pettitt was frustrating the home team and their vociferous supporters with some baffling decisions and Trafford had to wait until the 40th minute for their only chance of note in a disappointing first half, Eddie Servuts cracking a low drive from 20 yards that was deflected inches wide.
Seven minutes into the second half Trafford finally broke the deadlock, centre back Jordan Fagbola rising highest in the crowded penalty area to head a Tom Beckett corner past Kieran Boucher.
Town battled back spiritedly with Tom Thorley heading wide and Trafford keeper Sam Booth pushing a Jai Verma thunderbolt to safety.
In the 65th minute referee Pettitt drew further consternation from the home side when he awarded Town a penalty for an apparent push following a right wing corner but to Trafford’s relief Dan Gyasi carelessly and arrogantly chipped the ball past the left hand upright.
Manager Marginson introduced substitutes Matty Wolfenden and Matty Lusakueno into the action, the former immediately firing across the face of the goal.
Lusakueno wowed the crowd with a magical twenty minute cameo, making several electrifying runs down the left and being denied what looked like an obvious penalty in the 85th minute when he was floored by a Town defender. Unfortunately, Lusakueno was forced to leave the field following this challenge to be replaced by young Hilal Khan.
The visitors continued to push forward in search of the equaliser and in the 91st minute substitute Callum Niven broke clear down the middle but was denied by a brilliant match-winning save by Sam Booth.
The final whistle signalled an excellent but extremely hard fought victory for Marginson’s team. Speaking after the game, the Manager said: "I thought it was a really tough game. That isn't two bottom of the league teams. We kept the ball a little bit better than last week but they put us under immense pressure. It showed another side to our game to get another clean sheet, which is a real bonus. We just need to start taking more chances."
Trafford now face a very difficult game at high flying Avro on Boxing Day before entertaining Mossley at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium on New Year’s Day, both game kicking off at 3 p.m.
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