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Sat 16 Mar 2024 · Northern Premier League - West
Widnes
Trafford F.C.
2
0
WIDNES 2 TRAFFORD 0
Dave Law17 Mar - 08:41
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Trafford in danger of being dragged back into relegation dogfight
Trafford are in grave danger of being dragged back into the relegation dogfight at the foot of the NPL West Division table following their 2-0 loss at Widnes on Saturday, their third successive defeat.
The all-weather surface at the Halton Stadium has been somewhat of a jinx for the boys from Shawe View for many years and so it proved after just five minutes when Trafford keeper Sam Booth, his team’s saviour on so many occasions this season, mistimed a long punt downfield and allowed Jack McGowan to guide the ball home into the empty goal.
Nathan Caine headed wide at the back post and James Steele fired straight at Booth as the hosts continued to dominate and Trafford had to wait until the 25th minute for their first attempt on goal, Eddie Servuts angled drive from the right flying wide of the far post.
McGowan almost added a second when he just failed to connect with a low cross to the back post and in first half injury time Widnes half cleared a left wing corner and Mike Burke’s half volley flew inches over.
Trafford struggled to get to grips with the playing surface throughout the second half but their hopes of a comeback were not helped by the sending off of Damola Sotona in the 53rd minute when he clashed with James Steele and foolishly received two yellow cards in the space of a minute.
In the 67th minute a low drive by Sean Miller was spectacularly oushed behind by Sam Booth but from the resulting corner Brendan O’Brien volleyed home unmarked from just eight yards to make it 2-0.
Booth saved once more to deny Steele and in the 89th minute Trafford substitutes Matty Morgan and Kanye Nisbett linked neatly on the right, the latter cracking a drive that flew inches over.
Two minutes later Matty Morgan squandered a great chance when he was released by Chris Rowney but stabbed his shot wide of the post with just Cameron Terry to beat.
The final whistle signalled a tremendously disappointing result and performance by Karl Marginson’s side who, due to the fact that three of the bottom five teams won their games, are now back in the battle to avoid relegation.
On Saturday they face a crucial game against bottom of the table 1874 Northwich when three points are an absolute must. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium.
The all-weather surface at the Halton Stadium has been somewhat of a jinx for the boys from Shawe View for many years and so it proved after just five minutes when Trafford keeper Sam Booth, his team’s saviour on so many occasions this season, mistimed a long punt downfield and allowed Jack McGowan to guide the ball home into the empty goal.
Nathan Caine headed wide at the back post and James Steele fired straight at Booth as the hosts continued to dominate and Trafford had to wait until the 25th minute for their first attempt on goal, Eddie Servuts angled drive from the right flying wide of the far post.
McGowan almost added a second when he just failed to connect with a low cross to the back post and in first half injury time Widnes half cleared a left wing corner and Mike Burke’s half volley flew inches over.
Trafford struggled to get to grips with the playing surface throughout the second half but their hopes of a comeback were not helped by the sending off of Damola Sotona in the 53rd minute when he clashed with James Steele and foolishly received two yellow cards in the space of a minute.
In the 67th minute a low drive by Sean Miller was spectacularly oushed behind by Sam Booth but from the resulting corner Brendan O’Brien volleyed home unmarked from just eight yards to make it 2-0.
Booth saved once more to deny Steele and in the 89th minute Trafford substitutes Matty Morgan and Kanye Nisbett linked neatly on the right, the latter cracking a drive that flew inches over.
Two minutes later Matty Morgan squandered a great chance when he was released by Chris Rowney but stabbed his shot wide of the post with just Cameron Terry to beat.
The final whistle signalled a tremendously disappointing result and performance by Karl Marginson’s side who, due to the fact that three of the bottom five teams won their games, are now back in the battle to avoid relegation.
On Saturday they face a crucial game against bottom of the table 1874 Northwich when three points are an absolute must. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium.
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