Superb win for the young Trafford side - Clitheroe 2 v 3 TRAFFORD
A stunning first half performance earned Trafford the points at high flying Clitheroe in their Evo Stik League Division One North clash on Saturday.
In a lively opening Robert Turner headed just wide for the hosts and Trafford's dynamic midfielder Joe Shaw blasted over from 12 yards.
Danny Shannon then appealed vainly for a penalty after appearing to be tripped but put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute when he outpaced the Clitheroe defence and cooly placed the ball wide of the advancing Zack Hibbert. Hibbert fumbled a Paul Ashton free kick but Trafford's strikers were slow to convert the rebound before Tom Bentham made it two in the 33rd minute when he cut in from the left and slipped the ball past Hibbert.
Trafford were now in a rampant mood with Joe Shaw bursting forward from midfield to unleash a drive from 25 yards that flew inches wide. And in the 41st minute they capped a superb first half performance with a third goal when Clitheroe failed to clear a free kick from the left and Mike Hazeldine had the simplest of tap ins at the back post.
Clitheroe introduced substitute Phil Eastwood at the start of the second half and immediately forced Trafford onto the defensive.
Eddie Stanford failed to capitalise on a poor kick by Matt Eames, firing wide of the unguarded goal from forty yards, but in the 50th minute Liam Wheeler foolishly pulled Eastwood in the penalty area and Ash Parillon converted the spot kick.
Clitheroe were revitalised by this goal and pushed forward incessantly. However, Trafford keeper Matt Nemes was in inspired form and produced fine saves to deny Eastwood and Parillon.
Despite this home pressure, Trafford always looked dangerous on the break and in the 62nd minute Hazeldine drove against the post from 18 yards before driving straight at Hibbert three minutes later.
In the 68th minute Clitheroe struck once again when an inswinging corner from the left was neatly flicked home at the near post by centre half Chris Smalley.
Parillon flashed a free kick inches wide of the far post and Darren Green was denied by a last ditch clearance by Nia Bayunu as Clitheroe once again poured players forward.
But it was Trafford who went closest to scoring when, deep into injury time, Joe Shaw blasted a drive from 20 yards that rebounded into play off the foot of the post.
The final whistle arrived to signal a magnificent victory for the young Trafford side although both teams must take enormous credit for a thoroughly entertaining game.
