TRAFFORD 1 GOLCAR UNITED 0

Trafford battled through to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup with an extremely hard fought victory over Huddersfield based Golcar United.
After a lively opening, the hosts stormed ahead in the 11th minute when Ollie Ford crossed from the left and Ally Brown arrived to hook the ball home at the back post.
Tom Bentham then shot weakly at Sam Kelly when he broke through on the right and Mike Burke chipped just wide with the visiting keeper stranded.
It was now all Trafford with the Yorkshiremen struggling to cope with the strength of home striker Bentham and Burke almost made it two but saw his angled drive from close range parried by Kelly.
Bentham blasted well over from the edge of the area and then the foraging Ally Brown almost struck again but shot wide of the far post from just inside the penalty area.
Within 30 seconds of the restart Mike Burke saw his brilliant effort from way out on the left wing bounce off the top of the crossbar with keeper Kelly once more way off his line.
In the 51st minute Tom Bentham was desperately unlucky when he held off a challenge by Bradshaw and clipped an exquisite shot against the far upright and into the keeper’s hands.
Two minutes later Trafford were rocked when Golcar left back Leon Henry advanced down his flank, cut inside and was tripped by Harry Norris. Skipper Dan Stocker stepped forward to take the resultant penalty but Trafford keeper Brad Rose saved the day with a superb save to his left.
The remainder of the game was a strange affair with Golcar dominating the possession but Trafford defending valiantly and looking dangerous on the break.
Tom Bentham struck the woodwork once more in the 68th minute when he burst down the right and Mike Burke squandered a great chance when he was released by Rob Worrall but delayed his shot, allowing Kelly to block.
Brad Rose was dealing superbly with numerous crosses that were delivered into his area and despite being in the ascendancy Golcar were unable to create any clear-cut openings.
In fact it was Trafford once again who conjured the best chance in the closing minutes, substitute Demitrius Rhami breaking down the left but firing past the near post.
The final whistle signalled an excellent victory for Danny Caldecott’s team who now travel to Widnes on August 19th for their FA Cup Preliminary Round Tie.
Before that, however, they face a long journey on Saturday for their opening league fixture at Hednesford before entertaining Clitheroe at Shawe View on Tuesday, kick off 7-45 p.m.