SALFORD CITY 2 v 1 TRAFFORD FC
Saturday 10th April 2010
The Unibond League First Division North
Trafford produced a tired and lacklustre display at a resurgent Salford City on Saturday and fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
In a scrappy opening, Trafford striker Scott Barlow shot straight at Andy Robertson from 12 yards in the 3rd minute and then Lee Neville fired wide after Salford skipper Martyn Andrews had split open the visitors defence.
Robertson pushed another Barlow effort around the post and Rhodri Giggs struck a free kick straight at Trafford keeper Tom Read as both sides struggled to create any clearcut chances, the best opportunity falling to Salford's Steve Foster in the 33rd minute when he found himself in acres of space on the right but saw Read parry his drive to safety.
In the 39th minute Trafford midfielder Danny White squandered a great chance to give his team the lead when he blasted over from just eight yards but two minutes before half-time the deadlock was finally broken when Salford winger Stuart Tulloch struck a glorious drive from 30 yards into the top corner past the helpless Read.
Foster should then have made it two deep into injury time but he headed wide from just six yards after a pinpoint cross by Giggs.
The second half started in a very scrappy fashion with little or no goalmouth action until the 57th minute when Tulloch headed wide at the back post.
Ten minutes later the hosts went two goals ahead when Steve Foster outpaced the Trafford defence and neatly lobbed the ball over the advancing Read.
Martyn Andrews should have made it three when he shot over from just three yards and in the 81st minute Trafford were thrown a lifeline when substitute Tom Bailey crossed, Jake Williamson helped the ball on and Scott Barlow rifled a shot into the top corner.
The visitors were unable to snatch an equaliser in the closing minutes with Salford going closest to scoring when Andrews missed another chance from inside the six yard box.
Trafford FC Team: Tom Read, Paul Ashton, Lee Hargreaves, Nia Bayunu, Chris Lawton, Danny White, Marvin McDonald (Paul Derrick 67), Kyle Harrop, Greg Hall (Jake Williamson 73), Scott Barlow (Tom Bailey 73), Scott Metcalfe.
Subs Not Used: Papis Dieyte, Nikso Papagiris
Goals: (Salford City) Tulloch 42, (Salford City) Foster 67, (Trafford FC) Metcalfe 80.
