Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Trafford beat Warrington Rylands 2-0 in a pre-season friendly at Shawe View. Luke Sephton (64') and Dillon Edmundson (66') struck in a two-minute second-half blitz to secure the win in front of 216 spectators.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
The first half was a tight, even affair. Playing against a Rylands side that compete two tiers higher in the English football pyramid (Step 3 vs Step 5), Trafford more than held their own but created few clear-cut chances. Rylands spent the opening 45 minutes testing the home defence, but Trafford's back four — anchored by Scott Sephton and Harry Norris — held firm.
The game turned decisively after the hour mark. Luke Sephton opened the scoring in the 64th minute with a finish from close range, and before Rylands could regroup, Dillon Edmundson made it 2-0 just two minutes later. The quickfire double — two goals in the space of 120 seconds — left the visitors with no time to respond.
Trafford saw out the remainder of the match comfortably, with goalkeeper Matt Cooper untroubled in the closing stages. The match ended 2-0 with no cards issued.
The turning point
The two-minute burst between the 64th and 66th minutes. After a goalless first half in which neither side had dominated, Sephton's opener forced Rylands to push forward, and Edmundson's immediate second goal effectively ended the contest before the visitors could mount a response.
Key performers
Luke Sephton (Trafford) — Opened the scoring with a well-taken 64th-minute goal, providing the breakthrough Trafford needed after a goalless first half.
Dillon Edmundson (Trafford) — Made the game safe with a clinical finish two minutes after Sephton's opener, effectively sealing the win.
Matt Cooper (Trafford) — Kept a clean sheet against a side from two divisions higher, commanding his area well throughout.
By the numbers — interpreted
The 0-0 half-time scoreline reflects the competitive nature of the first period, with Rylands' higher league status not translating into territorial dominance. Trafford's two goals in 120 seconds after the break — a pattern familiar in pre-season friendlies where fitness levels and substitutions reshape contests — proved decisive. The attendance of 216 at Shawe View represented a solid turnout for a pre-season friendly between two non-league sides.
What it means
The victory was Trafford's second pre-season friendly of the summer. Their next fixture was scheduled for 20 July 2026 away at FC United of Manchester, followed by a trip to New Mills on 25 July. Rylands, preparing for the NPL Premier Division season, continued their pre-season build-up with a friendly against Blackburn Rovers U21s on 21 July 2026.
Trafford compete in the NWCFL Premier Division (Step 5) and will aim to build momentum through their pre-season programme. Rylands, playing at Step 3, used the fixture as a test against lower-league opposition — a chance to work on breaking down organised defences.
Verdict
A professional second-half display from Trafford, who showed they can compete with sides from higher divisions. Sephton and Edmundson's quickfire double provided the cutting edge that was missing in the first half. For Rylands, a useful workout that exposed the need for sharper reactions to concede goals.
Match Events
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026