TRAFFORD FC 3 v 1 CHORLEY
Saturday 24th April
The Unibond League First Division North
Trafford burst into life in the final 25 minutes with a triple goal blast after visitors Chorley had dominated for long spells.Alex Porter went close in the 4th minute, shooting straight at Trafford keeper Tom Read from a tight angle and then Chris Amadi's powerful drive was deflected behind for a corner.
Chorley's giant centre half Wayne Madden then headed a free kick from the left into Read's hands before Trafford mounted their first attack of any note in the 21st minute, Scott Barlow feeding Danny White whose low drive from the edge of the area was parried by Zac Hibbert.
Chorley were looking the better balanced team and Amadi went close once more, firing into the side-netting, and Ste Burke flicked a low cross just over the bar.
Burke headed over from eight yards in the 53rd minute as Chorley resumed control after the interval and nine minutes later Porter saw his close range header cannon back into play off the underside of the crossbar.
The game was transformed in the 65th minute when Trafford took the lead against the run of play, a long ball out of defence finding Scott Barlow who struck a blistering drive into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Barlow went close again just a minute later when he fired inches over whilst at the other end David Thomson half-volleyed wide at the back post.In the 79th minute Trafford were denied what looked like an obvious penalty for a trip on Shelton Payne but within seconds had doubled their lead when Tom Bailey saw his mishit shot from 15 yards bobble into the bottom corner past the bewildered Hibbert.
Seven minutes later Lee Shillito reduced the arrears with a superb glancing header into the top corner following a free kick from the right and in the 88th minute he had another half-chance but headed straight at Read.
It was Trafford who finished the game the stronger and in the 90th minute Scott Barlow cut in from the left and unleashed a superb low drive that flew into the bottom corner for his 21st goal of the season, and his 89th goal for Trafford, equalling manager Garry Vaughan's all-time goal-scoring record for the club.
The final whistle arrived to signal the end of an up-and-down season for Trafford who finished 12th in the Unibond League Division One North table and were beaten finalists in the Manchester Premier Cup Final.
Trafford FC Team: Tom Read, Kyle Harrop, Paul Ashton, Nia Bayunu (Lee Hargreaves 46), Chris Lawton, Joe Shaw, Danny White, Melford Knight, Tom Bailey (Marvin McDonald 90), Scott Barlow, Shelton Payne (Max Kisseh 83).
Subs Not Used: Greg Hall, Nikos Papargiris
Goals: (Trafford FC): Barlow 65, (Trafford FC) Bailey 79, (Trafford FC) Barlow 90, (Chorley) Shillito 86.
