Lostock Gralam 1

Trafford Reserves 2

TWO goals in the opening half-hour helped high-flying Trafford to a hard-fought 2-1 win at Lostock Gralam on Saturday.

Lostock's run of good form gave them high hopes against a Trafford team which had played 10 and won 10.

However, Lostock looked out of sorts as they started badly with poor passing, jittery defensive play and a failure to pick up the opposition.

Trafford were faster and sharper and they had already had two good chances to score when, in the seventh minute, Gary Bickerton fired home from 10 yards to finish a sweeping right-sided move.

For the next 15 minutes Lostock had to endure heavy pressure, Wyatt saving at close range from Pannot and Lewis, and it was no surprise when Trafford went 2-0 up on the half-hour.

A long clearance was headed into the path of Paul O'Hare, and he had plenty of time to control the ball before teeing himself up to score from 25 yards.

The Lostock team was rearranged at half-time and they began to play with more conviction in the second period.

They carved out a number of chances in the first 20 minutes, and Harrison and Lightfoot should have reduced the deficit when their shots went close.

Lostock managed to pull a goal back in the 70th minute. Carter's long ball from defence caught the defence cold and after three close-range shots had been saved or blocked, Jim Kimber bundled the ball over the line.

The game became much more even in the final 20 minutes as both teams sought an extra goal, but the nearest Lostock came to equalizing was when Grant Howman followed up a poor back pass, only for the ball to trickle across the goal for a goal-kick.

Lostock: Wyatt, Carter, Birtles, Politis, Kimber, Howman, Rogers, Lightfoot (Noden), Ball, Harrison, Evans (Peers). Sub not used: Crawford.

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