WOODLEY SPORT 2 v 3 TRAFFORD FC
Friday 2nd April 2010
The Unibond League First Division North
Trafford FC returned to winning ways on Friday with a hard fought 3-2 victory over a Woodley Sports side who staged a spirited second half fight back after trailing 3-0 at one point. At first Trafford struggled to get used to the artificial surface as Woodley had the better of the early exchanges and hit the woodwork in the first minute but as the game progressed the visitors adapted and came close to breaking the deadlock on a number of occasions.
After 12 minutes Joe Shaw hit a free kick over the bar before Nia Bayunu headed narrowly wide on 15 minutes. Trafford went close again 2 minutes later when Scott Barlow found himself through after goal following a slip by Woodley's Danny Jarrett but his low shot was saved well by the Woodley goalkeeper. Trafford's first goal came on 20 minutes when Danny White, back after missing the last few matches, scored with a bullet header at the far post from a great cross by Joe Shaw and they again went close several minutes later as Scott Metcalfe was played through by a great ball from Paul Ashton but shot narrowly wide with only the keeper to beat.
On 35 minutes Trafford scored their second goal of the afternoon and it came from good work by Danny White on the right after the referee had played advantage following a clinical foul on Scott Barlow, earning Woodley no. 5 Liam Hogan a yellow card. White beat his man and crossed neatly for the onrushing Melford Knight and the Trafford skipper made no mistake with a confident finish from just inside the area.
As the first half drew to a close, midfielder Simon Gallanders was unfortunately carried off with a nasty looking ankle injury and he was replaced by Marvin Mcdonald.
Early second half pressure saw Woodley again go close as Bayunu almost put the ball into his own net but Tom Read prevented the hosts from scoring colliding with the Woodley forward in the process.
After a scrappy start to the second half Trafford went close on 63 minutes when Scott Metcalfe broke free but his well hit shot was saved brilliantly by Woodley's Liam Higginbottom but on 65 minutes he was powerless to prevent Scott Barlow from making it 3-0 when a clever cross field pass from Kyle Harrop, also returning after missing several games, found the Trafford marksman who turned neatly before curling a right footed shot beyond Higginbottom and into the corner of the Woodley net.
Then it was Woodley's turn to press forward and it paid off straight away when Danny Queeley put a well placed header past Read on 67 minutes before the hosts pulled another goal back following some sloppy defending from the visitors who allowed Woodley 's Sam Walker in at the back post and he finished well on 69 minutes to give the home side hope.
Trafford continued to battle hard though and were very unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty on 80 minutes when a seemingly blatant handball went unnoticed by the officials and Scott Barlow was booked for dissent in the process. Following a late spell of pressure from the home side Trafford held on to record a well earned victory and will be looking to pick up another good result against Radcliffe Borough on Easter Monday.
Traffod FC Team: Tom Read, Kyle Harrop, Paul Ashton, Nia Bayunu, Chris Lawton, Simon Gallanders (Marvin McDonald 45), Danny White, Melford Knight, Joe Shaw, Scott Barlow, Scott Metcalfe.
Subs Not Used: Tom Bailey, Greg Hall, Glyn Barker.
Goals: (Trafford FC) White 22, (Trafford FC) Knight 37, (Trafford FC), Barlow 66(Woodley Sport) Queeley 67, (Woodley Sport) Walker (69)
