TRAFFORD 2 NEWCASTLE TOWN 1

Trafford took a giant step towards safety on Saturday with a magnificent 2-1 victory over in-form Newcastle Town, a win that moves them eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Karl Marginson’s team started confidently with Tom Beckett and Eddie Servuts wasting good opportunities in the opening minutes and Damola Sotona curling a shot over from the left.
Town seemed reliant on the long throws of Kyle Stubbs although Trafford defended them well with centre backs Harry Norris and Jordan Fagbola once again outstanding.
In the 27th minute Trafford midfielder Eoin Hogan was caught in possession by Tom Jones who shot straight at Sam Booth from the edge of the penalty area and just sixty seconds later the visitors stunned the home crowd when they took the lead with a lightning fast breakaway, Jake Avery clipping the ball past the advancing Booth.
Sean Higgins saw his shot from 12 yards deflected wide as Trafford sought the equaliser and that goal duly arrived four minutes before the interval when a Jordan Fagbola header from a right wing corner was handled and Eddie Servuts dispatched the resultant penalty past Joe Slinn. Amazingly this was Trafford’s first penalty of the season.
In the dying seconds of the first half Trafford almost struck again but Harry Norris headed wide from another corner from the right.
Trafford started the second half brightly with Chris Rowney driving just wide as Town half cleared yet another corner and in the 57th minute Trafford were awarded another spot kick for a trip on Damola Sotona. However, this time Town keeper Slinn read Servuts intentions, throwing himself to his left to gather the ball.
This save appeared to give the visitors confidence and in the 66th minute Jake Avery broke clear down the middle and looked certain to score. Trafford keeper Sam Booth came to his side’s rescue, not for the first time this season, producing a brilliant save to thwart the Town striker.
At the other end Rob Worrall volleyed wide following a great cross by Sotona but Town were in the ascendancy in the final twenty minutes and sensed victory.
However, in the 82nd minute Trafford substitute Hilal Khan found Eoin Hogan with a delightful defence splitting pass and Hogan’s cross fortuitously flew over keeper Slinn and inside the far post to make it 2-1.
The closing minutes saw Trafford displaying tremendous game management lead by skipper Harry Norris, and Sam Booth remained untroubled in the home goal, and despite the atrocious conditions the crowd of 329 left the ground having been treated to a superb and exciting end-to-end game.
On Saturday Trafford travel to play Nantwich Town in another NPL West Division fixture, kick off 3 p.m.