TRAFFORD 3, BAMBER BRIDGE 0

A youthful Trafford ran out winners at a sun-bathed Home Estates Shawe View Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The home team defied the odds to put 3 unanswered goals past visitors from the league above. The game started evenly and saw a decent midfield tussle for the first 20 minutes. Both teams had chances, but neither ‘keeper was troubled.
All that changed in the 23rd minute, when 17-year-old Lewis Salmon, fresh from his mid-week hat-trick broke down the left and fired a pin-point cross low into the box. The onrushing Jake Kenny didn’t need to break stride as he met the ball and side footed into the net for a goal on his Trafford debut. The home side had a glorious opportunity to double the lead a minute later with great play again down the left. This time it was Sam Grimshaw who fizzed a great ball into the box only for Darius Palma to head agonisingly over from 6 yards.
This seemed to stun Bridge into life, and they started to push Trafford deeper and deeper. Captain Matt Lawlor had a good chance but headed wide when unchallenged from a corner. A couple of free kicks were conceded out on the right, but Matt Cooper in the home goal was equal to any cross that came in.
As the break approached Salmon was involved again, feeding Ross Davidson on the edge of the area, but his shot was dragged wide. Just as the crowd was thinking of their half-time pie and pint, they were treated to a piece of magic from Trafford’s young striker. Lewis Salmon picked the ball up from inside his own half and drove towards goal as the opposition players backed off. He continued forward and into the box, and as the last-ditch challenges came in, he calmly stroked the ball past the static ‘keeper into the bottom corner.
As expected, the visitors came out with renewed purpose, but the Trafford defence stood firm. Trafford’s back line was well marshalled and restricted any chances to long range efforts.Trafford were continuing to have success down the left-hand side and Palma had a chance on 55 minutes that was well held by Lloyd Rigby in the Bamber Bridge goal. As the visitors sought to get back into the game, Trafford were counter attacking, utilising the pace and skill of the impressive ToyeebMustapha. Bridge had a chance in the 68th minute, Adam Sumner with good skill in the box, only to be blocked out by Keil O’Brien at the heart of the home defence.
Trafford had a chance to put the game to bed in the 82nd minute when Grimshaw played Salmon in from the left. Uncharacteristically, the youngster snatched at the chance and blazed over the bar with only the ‘keeper to beat. However, the icing on the cake came just 3 minutes later when substitute DontaiGabidon found himself some space on the right-hand edge of the box. He turned inside, beating the defender and curled his shot into the top corner sending themagnificent home fans into raptures. Trafford saw out the rest of the game to secure a place in the draw for the next round of the cup.
Trafford are back in league action on Tuesday night, 10th September when they travel to Marine for a 7.45pm kick off. The next home game is Saturday 14th September against Marske Utd, 3pm kick off.
By Lee Knights