Trafford FC 0 - Garforth Town 2

10-10-09

The Red Rose inhabitants of Trafford number nearly a quarter of a million, and almost 1/1500th of them turned out today to support their newest club, Trafford FC. With Old Trafford, the home of Man-ches-toh Uni’ed nearby it is understandable, not to mention the fact they play in white, yet the non-leaguers from Shawe View have amassed twenty-two honours in their short history. However, while four of their number sang to the tune of ‘We Are Sailing’, it would be the visiting Yorkshiremen who would cruise to a comfortable victory on the hostile side of the Pennines, completing a double barrelled victory for Leeds area sport as the Rhino’s became Super League champions only hours later in Trafford over St Helen’s of Lancashire. War of the Roses 2.0 revisited went to Yorkshire on this day…

Passing interchanges were exchanged between Harding, Ovington and Williams early doors as the Miner’s looked to find an opening. Ovington weaved from the left wing and positioned to shoot, missing narrowly. A long ball up the left channel almost sent Williams clear, and several shots were missed. Meanwhile, Turner, Renshaw, Zalo and Fox were unperturbed at the back, as Trafford offered little in the way of fashioning chances.

Ovington found the net on 37, when he cut in from the left wing as he had done before. He then proceeded to do what he had not done before, however, when he managed to hit both criteria for scoring goals; hit the target, and beat the keeper. His shot from distance dipped wickedly, exposed the stranded shot stopper, and opened the scoring.

Twenty minutes of gameplay later and Ovington almost created the second, sending Williams racing through on goal to meet a well-timed lunge from the goalkeeper. Minutes later he could have added the second himself after Greaves was put through on goal. The striker slid the ball past the goalkeeper into the path of Ovington, only for the most desperate of late lunges from a vigilant defender.

Claisse, Williams, Harding and Ovington stroked the ball around and exchanged passes, before Williams curled a ball into the box for Liam Ormsby. Unfortunately, the midfielder’s touch was too strong, and the flick went over. Then on 75, Mark Piper stole the ball with a deft Cruyff turn and released substitute Darren Thornton. The striker sent a shot wide.

The decisive killer blow was struck in the dying minutes of normal time, as a free kick was curled up to Greaves on the right wing. Sub-standard marking saw the ball sail past his man, the striker controlled, headed for goal, and shot low to the near post to double the advantage and claim the game. Trafford were sunk like the Titanic, as it was rather Garforth who were sailing.

The Miner’s improve to only one loss in five, as the player’s turn in their most comfortable display in recent memory as they win at a canter. Now mid-table, Town can push on, capitalise on the improved cohesion and make a statement. Two cup matches are next, one of which is the FA Trophy, and with only a handful of wins from Wembley, one could be forgiven for daring to dream, subconsciously smelling the stench of cockney-ville already and the foul aromas of the southern wastelands where potential cup glory awaits…