A highly entertaining and fiercely contested pre-season friendly ended with honours shared as both teams continued their preparations for the new season.

Trafford started superbly with Harry Norris heading just wide after two minutes and Hilal Khan curling a 25 yard shot against the left hand upright four minutes later.

Matt Davies then saw his low cross to the back post scrambled to safety before he paved the way for the visitors opening goal in the 10th minute when he fed Ryley Smith who stepped inside an Irlam defender and cleverly poked the ball into the bottom corner.

Karl Marginson’s side were playing some scintillating football and home keeper Elliott Wynne twice came to his side’s rescue with superb full-length saves to deny Kingston Figg and Ryley Smith.

The impressive Matt Davies, a recent signing from Charnock Richard, then dispossessed an Irlam defender but was thwarted by another excellent save by Wynne, before the hosts equalised completely against the run of play in the 27th minute when Trafford carelessly conceded possession and Andy Langford broke through and fired through Ollie Culkin’s legs.

Culkin then saved a John Johnson effort at point blank range before Irlam were awarded a highly debatable penalty in the 39th minute when Harry Norris was adjudged to have fouled Declan Daniels who stepped forward to plant the spot kick in the bottom corner.

Two minutes into the second half Trafford were level when a great move down the left ended with Harrison Bickerton squaring the ball to Brad Byrne who slotted home from 15 yards.

An audacious attempt from 40 yards by John Johnson was brilliantly pushed past the post by Culkin whilst at the other end a 25 yard rocket by Ben Lowe was superbly tipped over by Wynne.

Trafford’s substitute keeper Sam Booth clawed a header by Stephens past the post and Wynne produced further heroics for the hosts when he acrobatically pushed a Matty Lusakueno drive to safety.

The game ended in sensational fashion as Sean Higgins first saw his back post tap-in ruled out for offside and within thirty seconds cleared a goal-bound shot by Steve Holt off his own line.