Fourth Consecutive Defeat! Radcliffe Borough 1 v 0 TRAFFORD
Trafford slumped to a fourth successive defeat on Tuesday night when they were defeated 1-0 at Radcliffe Borough in their Evo-Stik League Cup First Round Tie.
Boro' edged the opening stages with Adam Roscoe heading straight at Tom Read in the 4th minute before Trafford hit back with Joe Shaw cracking a drive from 25 yards that home keper Nick Culkin pushed behind.
Tommy Turner found himself in space at the back post following a left wing corner but Boro' cleared the danger and Melford Knight struck a low drive from the edge of the area that Culkin held comfortably.
The pace was fast and furious and in the 36th minute Reece Kelly powered in a shot from fifteen yards that Read blocked with his legs.
The visitors finished the first half the strongest, however, and after Kyle Harrop curled a cross cum shot wide of the far post, skipper Joe Shaw burst through but fired inches wide of the upright.
With the slope in their favour in the second period, Trafford pushed forward and won a succession of corners. However, they were dealt a sucker punch in the 56th minute when Boro' broke away down the right, the visitors were left short at the back, and Richard Chetcuti arrived to blast the ball under Tom Read.
Trafford almost hit back immediately but Melford Knight's volley at the back post was cleared by the hard working and committed Boro defence and the home side broke forward quickly once more in the 67th minute with Read parrying Chetcuti's thunderous drive from 20 yards.
Read was Trafford's saviour once more in the 74th minute when he blocked a low free kick by Roscoe and then produced a magnificent save to thwart substitute Dave Sherlock.
The visitors pushed forward incessantly in the closing minutes and after being released by Tommy Turner, substitute Scott Barlow was denied by a brilliant last ditch tackle by Shaun Connor.
The final whistle arrived to signal a very disappointing result for Trafford and their travelling supporters but they will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain Warrington Town at Shawe View in an Evo-Stik League Division One North fixture kicking off at 3 p.m. Then on Tuesday night Abbey Hey are the visitors to Shawe View for a Manchester Premier Cup First Round Tie, kick off 7-45 p.m.
