GOLCAR UNITED 0 - 0 TRAFFORD

TRAFFORD’S 23/24 season kicked off on Saturday with a trip to the suburbs of Huddersfield for an Emirates FA Cup Preliminary tie versus Northern Counties East League side Golcar United. Danny Caldecott’s team drew 0-0 in a game that was far from easy on the eye.

Perhaps Trafford were unsettled by the playing surface not quite being what they are used to, but whatever it was there was something missing from the Yellows’ performance. Give credit to Golcar (lower in the pyramid) their team fought like warriors and fully deserved another crack in what was their first appearance in the FA Cup in living memory.

Trafford’s rhythm wasn’t helped by an early injury to skipper Astley Mulholland, replaced by Alfie Belcher before half time was reached. At the break, centre back Glenn Matthews also had to be withdrawn due to injury. Trafford’s 1st half display was hit and miss – a very early chance for Golcar’s No.11 Ollie Russon was pushed over the bar by Brad Rose, but after this scare Trafford gained a foothold in the midfield. Balls forward to Max Hazeldine and Tom Bentham however, were over-hit somewhat, skipping off the wet surface into the grateful arms of Golcar’s young ‘keeper Sam Kelly. Hazeldine was perhaps Trafford’s most direct attacker of the first half, and his shot-on-the-turn in the 32nd minute just flashed past the home side’s left upright.

Trafford started the second half in a much improved mood. Ollie Ford fired an Ally Brown cross just over the bar in the opening minutes of the half, while Rob Worrall hit a free kick also just over the horizontal woodwork. Failure to convert any chances however allowed Golcar back into the game, and Trafford found themselves under some pressure in the last ten minutes as the hosts won three or four corners in a frantic few final moments. Thankfully, the Shawe View men held firm, and gave themselves another chance to progress in the oldest football tournament, at home this coming Tuesday……