Match Report

An intense, physical encounter ended goal-less with Trafford squandering two late chances to snatch the win they so desperately need.

Witton could have taken the lead after just thirty seconds when Freddy Garbutt pounced on a weak clearance and volleyed against Sam Booth’s right hand upright from 25 yards.

Booth himself then gifted the visitors another golden opportunity with an awful pass inside his own penalty area but redeemed himself with a sharp save from Joe Duckworth.

Trafford gradually settled and skipper Harry Norris glanced a header just over following a right wing corner in the 9th minute.

Home striker Matt Davies then fed his marauding right back Sean Higgins who blasted a fierce low drive that was parried by Cameron Terry.

Brad Byrne’s close range effort was deflected wide after more good work by Higgins and Norris went close once more when his header from another corner flew just past the left hand upright.

Norris then cleared a Joe Duckworth shot off his own goal-line as play swung from end to end and as half time approached, Matt Davies and Dana Amaral both went close for Trafford with shots from 30 yards.

The second half opened with Trafford debutant Harry Leigh, on loan from Bolton Wanderers, firing over from the edge of the penalty area and Harry Norris went close again when he nudged a shot over after another corner.

Sam Booth produced a fine full length save to thwart Tom Hoyle in the 63rd minute and shortly afterwards Trafford’s Kieron Molloy just failed to connect with a near post flick following a long throw from the right.

Skipper Norris was in the thick of the action once more when he cleared off the line after a weak punch by Booth but the closing stages belonged to Trafford as they desperately pushed forward in search of the winner.

Matt Davies agonisingly fired across the face of the Albion goal after cutting in from the right and in the final seconds Harry Norris nodded a corner back across the face of the goal and substitute Tom Lawless’s close range header was brilliantly tipped over by Terry.

A hugely entertaining game played in atrocious conditions came to a close with honours shared and Trafford now face two daunting away games at Chasetown and Darlaston as they fight for survival in the NPL West Division.