TRAFFORD FC 0 v 3 FC HALIFAX TOWN
Saturday 27th March 2010
The Unibond League First Division North
Trafford suffered a massive hangover from Thursday night's Semi Final exertions when they turned in a tired and lacklustre display against championship hopefuls Halifax and crashed to a 3-0 defeat.
Backed by their incredible supporters in a crowd of over 500, the visitors dominated from the kick off and in the first minute home keeper Tom Read flung himself to his left to turn a Nick Gray pile-driver round the post.
In the 5th minute Halifax took their lead when Michael Wilde capitalised on slack defending to stride forward and strike a sweet right footed drive past the helpless Read.
Halifax were quicker to the ball and stronger in the tackle and their only weakness appeared to be in front of goal.
Wilde had another good chance in the 32nd minute but headed straight at Read and then seconds before half-time James Riley did likewise with a ground shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The second half was similar to the first with Halifax completely in control without having to really exert themselves.
Scott Phelan had a great chance to make it two in the 47th minute but was denied by Tom Read's block from point blank range and then the Unibond League's leading goalscorer James Dean turned neatly on the edge of the penalty area but shot inches wide.
Dean went close again in the 64th minute with Read tipping his shot over the bar and from the resultant corner Simon Gallanders was on hand to clear a Wilde header off the line.
Phelan and Dean both went close in what was turning out to be a one-sided encounter but Trafford were given a ray of hope in the 86th minute when Halifax midfielder Bradley Barnes was sent off following a clash with Shelton Payne.
Undaunted by this setback, Halifax pushed forward in search of further goals and were rewarded for their enterprise in the 90thminute when substitute Mark Peers steered a superb curling ground shot inside the far post from the edge of the area.
Three minutes into injury time the scoring was completed when Peers cut in down the left and crossed hard and low for Nick Gray to clip home from close range.
Trafford now face a daunting three games in five days over the holiday period with a trip to Woodley Sports on Good Friday, a home fixture against Radcliffe Borough on Easter Monday, both 3 p.m. kick offs.
Trafford FC Team: Tom Read, Nikos Papargiris, Paul Ashton, Nia Bayunu, Chris Lawton, Simon Gallanders, Joe Shaw, Max Kisseh Melford (Knight 75), Tom Bailey (Glyn Barker 59), Scott Barlow, Shelton Payne.
Subs Not Used: Greg Hall, Marvin McDonald.
Goals: (Halifax Town) Wilde 5, (Halifax Town) Peers 90+1, (Halifax Town) Gray 90+3
