Trafford 1

TRAFFORD Football Club squandered what should have been three fairly comfortable Unibond League points on Saturday when they missed a host of chances and fell to a 2-1 defeat at Matlock Town.

The Shawe View men got off to the worst possible start when, in the second minute, debutant Steve Bullock sent a weak back header in the direction of goalkeeper Jim O'Donnell and saw Matlock's Tilly nip in to sidefoot the ball home.

However, within 90 seconds, Trafford were back on level terms when Gareth Feeney gained possession 40 yards out, sped past two Matlock defenders and planted the ball firmly inside the near post.

The normally deadly Darren Emmett was then put in the clear by a Steve Jackson header but, with just goalkeeper Duke to beat, he hesitated and was dispossessed by the young custodian.

With Trafford playing some lovely football on a difficult surface, Matlock were forced onto the defensive and in the 22nd minute Duke was their saviour once again when he saved at the feet of Jamie Shepley, who had been sent clear by Colin Blain.

Jim O'Donnell was then called into action twice within a minute, first to deny Cavell with a comfortable save under the crossbar and then to fingertip a drive by Anson to safety with an acrobatic leap.

Three minutes before the interval Trafford created yet another glorious chance but this time Gary Bickerton saw his shot deflected for a corner by the gallant Duke.

The pattern of play continued at the start of the second half with Trafford enjoying the majority of the possession and putting together some fine moves but once again letting themselves down with some weak finishing.

In the 48th minute Shepley crossed to the back post but Bickerton failed to control the ball with his chest and Duke gathered.

Shortly afterwards Feeney and Rick Holden carved open the home defence but Flynn cleared the danger with a goal-line clearance.

Darren Emmett then brilliantly dribbled past four Matlock defenders but shot weakly at Duke and a minute later crashed in a great drive from 20 yards that the Matlock keeper fingertipped for a corner.

Trafford were firmly in control and in the 70th minute another marvellous move ended with substitute Chris Simms being released in the inside right position but he some how pulled the ball across the face of the goal with only Duke to beat.

Then, as fate would have it, Matlock broke away and stole the game with a goal just five minutes from time, Cavell working his way to the goal-line and pulling the ball back for Rookyard to sidefoot past the helpless O'Donnell.

Time ran out for Trafford and their loyal band of supporters who made the journey back over the Pennines wondering how they could dominate a game so much, create a succession of gilt-edged goalscoring opportunities, and still finish on the losing side.

But that is Unibond League football!

On Saturday, Trafford complete their league programme with the long haul to Whitley Bay, a game of massive importance for the North Easterners who find themselves deep in the fight to avoid relegation.

Sportsmens Evening

ON FRIDAY 14th May, The King of the Stretford End, Denis Law, comes to town for the next in Trafford Football Club's long line of successful Sportsmens Evenings.

The event takes places at the Manor Hey Hotel in Urmston and further details can be obtained form David Law on 0161 748 5376.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.