Trafford 1 Marine 3 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford 1 Marine 3

7:49pm Monday 8th October 2012 in Sport

TRAFFORD’S magnificent unbeaten start to the season finally came to an end on Saturday.

They were defeated by Evo Stik Premier Division leaders Marine in their FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Tie at Shawe View.

Despite the result, the home side dominated possession throughout with some beautifully composed football and the only difference between the sides was the fact that Marine got the breaks in front of goal.

The opening stages were tense and close fought with John Shaw driving over from 25 yards for Marine and Martyn Andrews doing likewise for Trafford.

Andy Smart then curled a free kick just over bar before, in the 26th minute, Andrews released Shelton Payne whose curling effort from just inside the penalty area crashed against the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards, Trafford’s appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Danny Grannon appeared to handle and then Michael Oates broke clear on the right but pulled the ball across the face of the goal instead of shooting.

Former Trafford keeper Ryan McMahon then parried a thunderbolt from Shelton Payne before the local side deservedly took the lead in the 43rd minute, Will Ahern beating the offside trap to break clear, round McMahon and tap the ball home.

Marine received a half time rollicking from manager Kevin Lynch and within 40 seconds of the restart they were level, Nick Rogan rather fortuitously deflecting a shot past Tom Read after Michael Ordish’s low drive appeared to be going wide.

Read could then quite easily have been shown a red card after clattering Matty Devine just outside the penalty area but referee Hodkinson decided instead to brandish yellow.

In the 59th minute Paul Ashton squandered a great chance when he won a challenge with McMahon but clipped the ball wide of the open goal and then Michael Oates outpaced the Marine defence on the left and crossed to the near post where substitute Kamahl Whight fired wide.

Marine’s giant centre backs always looked dangerous at set pieces and in the 78th minute the visitors stormed ahead when Trafford failed to clear a left wing corner and the ball fell kindly to Danny Grannon who shot home from close range.

With five minutes remaining the tie was effectively sealed when Andy Fowler broke clear down the middle, fired against the foot of the post and fortune once more favoured the visitors as the rebound fell straight to the feet of Fowler who tapped home.

Trafford bravely battled to the end with Sam Halligan shooting just past the post from 20 yards and then McMahon producing a superb save to deny Whight from point blank range.

And so Trafford’s unbeaten start to the season was finally ended at the 12th hurdle although they can take great heart from the quality of their performance against top class opposition and they can look forward with confidence to their FA Trophy clash against Hednesford Town in a fortnight’s time.

However, on Saturday they return to league action with a home fixture against Ossett Town, kick off 3 p.m., and then on Tuesday night they entertain Oldham Borough in the First Round of the Manchester Premier Cup, kick off 7-45 pm