AFC LIVERPOOL 3 TRAFFORD 3

Trafford suffered an FA Cup hangover on Saturday, squandering a two goal lead and conceding a goal in the dying seconds to draw 3-3 at basement side AFC Liverpool. 

Despite the disappointment of Tuesday night’s defeat at Atherton Collieries, Tom Baker’s side started confidently with Brad Byrne nudging a Kyle Worsley cross wide in the first minute and then seeing his half volley from close range blocked by a Liverpool defender.

Scott Sephton twice went close as the visitors remained in control and then brother Luke glanced his shot just past the upright following a cross by Hamed Sidibe 

Trafford took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Dave Worrall’s corner from the right was only half cleared and Callum Grogan pounced to volley past Harry Campbell from ten yards.

Within a minute of the restart, however, Liverpool got back on level terms when a thunderous free kick from 25 yards by Jordan Monthe was tipped against underside of the crossbar by Connor Beard but fell agonisingly just over the goal-line.

Six minutes later Luke Sephton restored Trafford’s lead when he deflected a low cross from the right past Campbell and in the 56th minute Scott Sephton powered a header into the roof of the net following another Worrall corner to make it 3-1.

Dillon Edmondson should have made it 4-1 and put the game out of sight when he broke clear of the Liverpool defence but shot wide and Trafford were punished almost immediately when the hosts launched a lightning fast break down the left and the ball was crossed to Chris Happi-Fankam who struck a brilliant first time volley past Connor Beard. 

Liverpool were now in the ascendancy and Trafford were rattled, and with ten minutes remaining skipper Harry Norris was sent to the sin-bin for dissent following a bizarre decision by the referee.

Beard produced a fine reflex save to thwart Monthe and then Gerrard volleyed over from just six yards as Liverpool poured forward in search of the equaliser.

It appeared as though Trafford would survive the onslaught when, in the 93rd minute, a cross was played in from the right, Beard saved from point blank range from Chris Happi-Fankam, but the referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line.

Despite the visitors vehement protests, the goal stood and so Trafford left the field devastated to have drawn a game that they should have won handsomely.

Manager Baker must now lift the spirits in the Trafford camp and hope that they can get back to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain South Liverpool at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.