A brilliant opportunist goal in the 25th minute by Ryley Smith highlighted what was otherwise a scrappy and disjointed performance by Trafford at Wythenshawe on Saturday.
For the second week in succession, the hard playing surface made constructive football difficult and it certainly didn’t suit Trafford’s short passing game.
After the hosts saw two rather optimistic penalty appeals ignored in the opening period, Trafford stormed ahead when Smith collected the ball out on the right and cut inside to unleash a stunning low drive from 25 yards into the far corner.
Three minutes later visiting keeper Sam Booth produced a brilliant save to tip a Darrhyl Mason header over the bar whilst at the other end Kevin Spinelli won a challenge midway inside the Wythenshawe half and flashed a 30 yard drive inches over the crossbar.
The first half came to a close with Booth once again performing heroics with an excellent reflex save to thwart Fraser Goodwin.
Wythenshawe dominated the opening stages of the second half with left back Cameron Annis-Wade firing straight at Booth from 15 yards and Mwiya Malumo poking his shot wide as he broke down the right.
The hosts were proving to be physically superior and poured forward in search of the equaliser although when it arrived in the 58th minute there was an air of controversy surrounding it, Darrhyl Mason racing clear with Trafford appealing for offside and clipping the ball past the advancing Booth.
Wythenshawe sensed victory and put the visiting defence under intense pressure, winning a succession of corners. Dead ball expert Louis Corrigan caused mayhem with his in-swinging deliveries and in the 86th minute Sam Booth came to his team’s rescue once more with a fabulous save from an Andy Keogh header.
William Igoe’s header in the dying seconds was comfortably held by Booth and the final whistle signalled an excellent point for Karl Marginson’s side against a team that was fighting for survival in the NPL West Division.
The result leaves Wythenshawe in 20th place in the twenty-two team division whilst Trafford have slipped down to 9th place, eight points outside the play-offs.
With eight games remaining, Trafford will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Stafford Rangers at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.