Match Report

Former midfielder Ryley Smith came back to haunt his old club, scoring a 61st minute wonder goal to give Avro a 2-1 victory and effectively seal Trafford’s relegation to the North West Counties League.

After a cautious start, Trafford stormed ahead in the 9th minute when a lightning fast break down the left ended with a James Butterworth cross that Sam Davidson spectacularly headed past his own keeper.

Darrhyl Mason struck the foot of the post following some slack defending by Trafford and more poor marking on the half hour mark allowed Sam Davidson to atone for his earlier error and strike a fine low drive past Charlie Brier and into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

Defences were on top for the remainder of the first half with Trafford skipper Harry Norris heading over from a Kyle Worsley free kick in time added on.

Trafford were missing the influence of central midfielder Scott Sephton due to injury and with Avro controlling that part of the pitch, the visitors struggled to play with any cohesion or pattern.

Harry Salt fired past the post from just 12 yards as Avro pushed forward and then home left back Adam Owen crashed a great shot just over with Trafford once more affording their opponents far too much space.

However, in the 58th minute Harry Evers gained possession out on the left flank, bursting forward to outpace the Avro defence but then firing wide with just Cameron Mason to beat.

Three minutes later Harry Norris bravely deflected a thunderous drive by Ryley Smith wide, but from the resulting corner, Trafford fell asleep once more allowing Smith to collect the ball and blast a magnificent angled drive past Brier and into the far top corner.

Two minutes later Trafford sensed that it wasn’t to be their day when midfielder Brad Byrne saw his superb long range effort cannon back into play off the Avro crossbar.

Kyle Worsley then struck two free kicks from good positions wide of the target as Trafford desperately sought the equaliser but it wasn’t to be and so Tom Baker’s side fell to yet another single goal defeat in their sorry season.