Match Report

TRAFFORD 2 ATHERTON COLLIERIES 2

Trafford were robbed of an historic FA Cup victory by a 90th minute equaliser but can look forward with confidence to Tuesday night’s replay after dominating for long spells.

After a nervous and cagey opening with both defences on top, Tom Baker’s side created the first chance in the 11th minute when Ryan Brooke headed in to the side-netting following a superb flighted cross by Kyle Worsley.

The Northern Premier West Division side were sitting back and allowing Trafford to dictate possession, hoping to catch them on the break with long balls out of defence.

And in the 35th minute the visitors took the lead when home midfielder Brad Byrne was caught in possession midway inside his own half by Harry Forshaw who released KielanAdams, the Colls striker striding forward and planting a firm shot past the onrushing Connor Beard.

Seconds before the interval, Trafford should have levelled when a glorious pass by Dave Worrall found Luke Sephton who shot wide from just 15 yards.

Four minutes after half-time Baker’s Boys snatched a deserved equaliser when a long throw by Jacob May was flicked on and Kyle Worsley timed his run to perfection to smash the ball home from ten yards.

Buoyed by this goal, Trafford stormed forward and after appeals for a penalty following a trip on Bile Ahmed were waved away, Brad Byrne rounded off a neat move with a snapshot that was saved by Harvey Bardsley.

In the 58th minute Trafford were rewarded for their enterprise when they took the lead, Bile Ahmed making a scintillating run down the left and flashing a wicked curling cross that Bardsley could only parry into his own net.

A Colls free kick in the 64th minute was headed over by giant centre back Mohamed Ali and eight minutes later Kyle Worsley squandered a golden opportunity to put the tie to bed when he broke clear but, with just Bardsley to beat, shot agonisingly past the far post.

The visitors were pumping the ball forward at every opportunity but the Trafford defence, with skipper Harry Norris once more outstanding, were repelling everything that was thrown at them.

However, in the 90th minute disaster struck when Trafford failed to clear a long throw from the left and the ball fell kindly to Essa Janneh who lashed it into the roof of the net from ten yards.

Despite the referee adding seven minutes of ‘time added on’, neither side created any further chances and so an enthralling game, played in front of a bumper crowd of 1092, ended with honours even.