The sending off of centre back Glenn Matthews after just 15 minutes proved to be the turning point as Trafford crashed out of the FA Cup at the Preliminary Round stage on Saturday.
The Northern Premier League East Division outfit were on top from the start with Donae Lawrence breaking clear in the 8th minute but being denied by a brilliant save by Sam Booth.
Booth saved again from Lawrence just sixty seconds later and Charles Barks headed over as the visitors dominated and Referee Bragg had no alternative but to brandish a red card when Matthews recklessly lunged at Adam Clayton as the Emley player ran the ball out of defence.
Trafford were incredibly unlucky not to take the lead in the 26th minute when Rio Clegg broke down the right and crossed for Matty Lusakueno to crash his shot against the crossbar but this was an isolated attack by the hosts as Emley pushed forward incessantly.
A teasing cross by Harrison Sheppherd was pushed behind by Sam Booth but the Trafford keeper was helpless in preventing Emley from taking the lead in the 33rd minute when a low cross from the left was expertly volleyed in at the near post by Nathan Curtis.
Trafford were struggling to contain the lively Emley forwards and they were left with a mountain to climb just seconds before half-time when Amir Birchil cut inside substitute Mackena Bradshaw and blasted a great shot into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Karl Marginson’s side battled gamely in the opening stages of the second half and in the 51st minute Jerome Wright showed a great piece of skill to coast past an Emley defender and crack a low drive that was pushed behind by Declan Lambton.
Rio Clegg then saw his shot from just eight yards somehow blocked on the line by Barks but on the hour mark the visitors struck again when man-of-the-match Birchil outpaced Bradshaw on the left and coolly side-footed the ball past the advancing Sam Booth.
Trafford substitute Kanye Nisbett wasted a golden opportunity when he volleyed wide from 10 yards three minutes later but the experienced Yorkshiremen were well in control and should have added to their tally in the closing stages.
James Walshaw headed wide at the back post in the 84th minute, Sam Booth saved from Al Keita shortly afterwards and then in the dying seconds Charles Barks just failed to connect cleanly with a cross from the right.
Emley thoroughly deserved their victory and a place in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round but Trafford can reflect on the fact that they were missing the services of skipper Harry Norris, Sean Higgins, Rob Worrall and Hilal Khan due to injuries, and a moment of madness from Glenn Matthews that left them with a momentous, and ultimately impossible task.
Manager Marginson will be hoping that some if not all of those injured players will be available for Saturday’s NPL West Division fixture when they entertain Widnes FC at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 pm.