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Sat 06 Jan 2024 · Northern Premier League - West
Hanley Town
Trafford F.C.
1
1
HANLEY TOWN 1 TRAFFORD 1
Dave Law7 Jan - 08:52
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HEROIC HIGGINS RESCUES TRAFFORD AT HANLEY
Right back Sean Higgins scored his first goal in a Trafford shirt to rescue his side as Karl Marginson’s team registered their tenth draw of the season and stretched their unbeaten run to six games.
The visitors were uncharacteristically sloppy in the opening period with Town’s Saul Shotton and Ethan Stanton both going close.
Trafford began to settle with debutant Chris Rowney impressive in midfield and in the 15th minute a neat move down the right ended with Eddie Servuts firing into the side-netting.
Shotton rifled a half-volley inches wide as Trafford only half cleared a free kick and the hosts took the lead in the 31st minute when Luke Walsh burst into the Trafford penalty area and coolly side-footed the ball past Sam Booth.
Marginson’s side had afforded their opponents far too much space as Town went into the break with a deserved lead but the Trafford boss addressed that problem at half-time and his players came out for the second half in a much more positive manner.
Chris Rowney fired in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was fumbled behind by goalkeeper Tommy Jackson and Trafford were finally rewarded for their enterprise on the hour mark when Sam Gill flighted a great cross from the left that was brilliantly volleyed into the bottom corner by the marauding Sean Higgins for his first goal in 49 appearances.
Shotton miskicked in front of goal following a rare slip by Trafford skipper Harry Norris and at the other end Eddie Servuts appeared to be pulled back as he threatened to break clear but the referee ignored the appeals for a free kick.
Both teams pushed forward in search of the winner with the best chance falling to Town substitute Lucas Baker in the 88th minute when his glancing header was brilliantly saved by Sam Booth.
A rather disappointing game played on a difficult surface in freezing conditions came to a close with Trafford once again producing a determined and resilient performance in which their back four was superb, but with four wins, ten draws and eight defeats from their opening 22 games they are desperate for more victories.
On Saturday, Marginson’s Men will be hoping to cause a major upset when they entertain runaway league leaders Leek Town in a NPL West Division fixture kicking off at 3 p.m.
The visitors were uncharacteristically sloppy in the opening period with Town’s Saul Shotton and Ethan Stanton both going close.
Trafford began to settle with debutant Chris Rowney impressive in midfield and in the 15th minute a neat move down the right ended with Eddie Servuts firing into the side-netting.
Shotton rifled a half-volley inches wide as Trafford only half cleared a free kick and the hosts took the lead in the 31st minute when Luke Walsh burst into the Trafford penalty area and coolly side-footed the ball past Sam Booth.
Marginson’s side had afforded their opponents far too much space as Town went into the break with a deserved lead but the Trafford boss addressed that problem at half-time and his players came out for the second half in a much more positive manner.
Chris Rowney fired in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was fumbled behind by goalkeeper Tommy Jackson and Trafford were finally rewarded for their enterprise on the hour mark when Sam Gill flighted a great cross from the left that was brilliantly volleyed into the bottom corner by the marauding Sean Higgins for his first goal in 49 appearances.
Shotton miskicked in front of goal following a rare slip by Trafford skipper Harry Norris and at the other end Eddie Servuts appeared to be pulled back as he threatened to break clear but the referee ignored the appeals for a free kick.
Both teams pushed forward in search of the winner with the best chance falling to Town substitute Lucas Baker in the 88th minute when his glancing header was brilliantly saved by Sam Booth.
A rather disappointing game played on a difficult surface in freezing conditions came to a close with Trafford once again producing a determined and resilient performance in which their back four was superb, but with four wins, ten draws and eight defeats from their opening 22 games they are desperate for more victories.
On Saturday, Marginson’s Men will be hoping to cause a major upset when they entertain runaway league leaders Leek Town in a NPL West Division fixture kicking off at 3 p.m.
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