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Pre-Season Friendly
TRAFFORD 0 ALTRINCHAM 5
Tuesday 26th July 2011
After holding non-league aristocrats Altrincham to a goal-less first half, Trafford fell away disastrously in the second half and were soundly beaten 5-0.
The visitors were in control from the start and in the 8th minutes Damian Reeves fired a good chance across the face of the goal.
Nicky Clee then chipped the ball straight at goalkeeper Greg Hall with the goal at his mercy and Brian Summerskill mishit a shot from 15 yards that bobbled wide.
However, Altrincham weren't having things all their own way and after Ben Morris had fired inches over from 35 yards with
Stuart Coburn stranded, Matt Landregan blasted in a thunderbolt that was well held by the Alty keeper.
The deadlock was finally broken in the first minute of the second half when Sean Densmore ripped open the Trafford defence and Damian Reeves cooly placed his shot wide of Hall.
Five minutes later, Reeves struck again when he headed home from point blank range and Brian Summerskill almost made it three with a thunderous low drive that was brilliantly tipped behind by Hall.
Altrincham substitute Ashley Mulholland was causing all sorts of problems for the home defence with his searing pace and he made it 3-0 in the 69th minute with a clinical finish from ten yards.
At the other end Ben Morris saw his goalbound shot blocked on the line before Mulholland struck again in the 81st minute with a low drive into the bottom corner from 15 yards.
The scoring was completed in the dying seconds when Reeves broke clear of the shell-shocked Trafford defence and slotted the ball into the far corner from close range.
Pre-Season Friendly
TRAFFORD 2 ST. HELENS TOWN 1
Saturday 23rd July 2011
Trafford overcame a resilient and hard-working St Helen's Town outfit on Saturday in a highly competitive game at Shawe View.Garry Vaughan's side dominated possession throughout but lacked a cutting edge, particularly in the first half.
They attacked from the kick off with midfield debutants Ben Morris and Rory Fallon looking impressive but were rocked in the 8th minute when Nia Bayunu bundled Graham Bolan to the ground and Ian Dyson blasted the resultant penalty past Tom Read.
Trafford pushed forward in search of the equaliser and on the half hour Paul Ashton struck a drive from 30 yards that cannoned off the crossbar. Kevin McGrath glanced a header wide from a great position and then Dean Cooper chipped over with just Dale Newbrook to beat.
The pattern of play continued into the second half with Trafford once more the dominant force but failing to find a way through the well-drilled Town defence. However, the introduction of Gareth Richards in the 52nd minute immediately gave the home side greater strength up front and within three minutes he paved the way for the equaliser when his brave challenge on Newbrook ended with the ball falling to Paul Ashton who volleyed sweetly into the bottom corner.
Shortly afterwards the quicksilver Ben Morris saw his drive cleared off the line and then Gareth Thomas volleyed well over from a good position beyond the far post.
In the 80th minute Trafford were rewarded for their superiority when Gareth Richards struck a volley from 20 yards that flew into the bottom corner past the unsighted Newbrook.
A fascinating game came to a close with Trafford deserving of their victory but Town emerging with great credit for their organisation, competitiveness and industry, qualities that popular manager Jim McBride will take with confidence into the new season.
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