The opening period of the game was scrappy and peppered with free kicks from both sides, but came to life on 13 minutes when Bootle's Tom Peterson headed home a right wing cross from close range.

Ten minutes later, Trafford levelled when Aaron Fleming's free kick was cleared by the visitor’s defence, only to be immediately returned, then lashed home by Ben Finley. Both sides created some good chances during the remainder of the first half. Trafford’s best effort was perhaps Matty Morgan’s fiercely struck shot which Bootle’s custodian Sam Ashton kept out with both fists; At the other end, Trafford centre back Harry Norris cleared off the line when Ben Hodkinson seemed certain to score. It was the visitors who regained the lead however just minutes before the break when Jack McGowan's low drive deceived home keeper Conor Robson to nestle in the bottom corner.

The second half was a story of Trafford possession, the hosts prodding and probing in and around Bootle’s penalty area. The visitors defended with resilience however, breaking on the counter attack whenever they could. Such an attack gave Peterson his second goal of the game to make it 3-1, and he was unlucky not to bag a hat-trick when a later break saw him beat Robson with a low drive that came back off the post. By the time Trafford reduced the arrears with an injury time penalty from Tom Bentham, it was too little too late.

9 April 2023
Bootle 2 Trafford 0

Trafford created a half-chance in the 12th minute when a well-worked corner routine ended with Glenn Matthews firing in a 20 yard volley that was deflected just wide.

The first clear-cut opportunity came six minutes later when Bootle took the lead, Simon Wills crossing low from the left and Tom Peterson stealing in through the static Trafford defence to coolly volley the ball past Matty Cooper. In the 28th minute Trafford only half-cleared a right wing corner and Connor Millington blasted his shot inches wide and a scrappy first half ended with visiting midfielder Jack Dorney glancing a header goal-wards that Matty Hamilton cleared off the line.

Trafford were on top in the opening stages of the second half but were clearly missing the creative powers of the injured Rob Worrall and home keeper Curtis Anderson was rarely troubled. Hamilton almost made it two in the 62nd minute when his goal-bound effort was blocked by Glenn Matthews and in an attempt to bring a greater attacking threat to his team, Trafford manager Danny Caldecott introduced substitutes Kade Badby and Tom Bentham. However, in the 72nd minute disaster struck for the visitors when Hamilton flighted a delightful left wing corner beyond the far post and Tom Peterson arrived to neatly half-volley the ball past Cooper to make it 2-0.

3 September 2023
Trafford 0 Bootle 1

In the 6th minute danger-man Ben Hodkinson crossed from the left and Stephen Milne somehow volleyed over from four yards and then Ethan Vaughan advanced unmarked down the right but thankfully headed against the far post. Bootle’s pressure finally paid dividends in the 29th minute when Hodkinson broke clear with Trafford vainly appealing for offside and cracked a fine left footed drive past Brad Rose. The visitors were dominating the midfield and Mason Fawns was unfortunate when his brilliant curling drive into the top corner was ruled out for offside. On the stroke of half-time goalkeeper Rose came to Trafford’s rescue once more when he flung himself to his left to touch a goal-bound shot by Hodkinson onto the post and behind.

Trafford came out for the second half in a much more purposeful and determined mood and in the 51st minute Demi Rhami should have done better when he fired over from 15 yards. Young substitute Matty Lusakueno blasted a shot that was pushed behind by Bootle keeper Owen Mooney whilst at the other end a free kick by Owen Robinson was held at full length by Brad Rose. Trafford pushed forward in search of the equaliser in the final quarter with Harry Norris heading over in the 71st minute and Rob Worrall flighting a left wing corner onto the top of the crossbar. Mike Burke just failed to connect with a cross by the marauding Jack Sloan and in the closing minutes a Lusakueno cross from the left was inches too high for Matty Barlow. The final whistle signalled a disappointing result for the hosts but they can take heart from an encouraging second half performance by their young side and can now look forward to Saturday’s FA Trophy Tie against Stalybridge Celtic at Shawe View, another fixture that should attract a large crowd.