Trafford 0-2 Hednesford Town (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford 0-2 Hednesford Town

6:02pm Monday 29th October 2012 in Sport

TRAFFORD'S FA Trophy campaign came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten by Evo-Stik Premier Division high-flyers Hednesford Town in a pulsating tie at Shawe View.

However, it was the home side who found their stride first, with Shelton Payne seeing his 12th minute free-kick well saved by Hednesford's Dan Crane, low down to his right.

From the resulting corner, Michael Oates headed against the underside of the bar, with the ball staying in play.

Matt Landregan then drove over when well placed, before another Payne free-kick was acrobatically tipped over by the impressive Crane. This was followed by Tom Schofield driving narrowly over.

Despite Trafford dominating the opening 25 minutes, the sides were still level, this being largely down to Crane, and the home side were almost punished for their missed chances. Town's Sean O'Connor thought he was clear, but a good recovering tackle by Warren Collier halted him, before Elliott Durrell curled an effort straight at Tom Read. On the stroke of half-time a header from close range was tipped onto the roof of the net by Read, as the Staffordshire side began to find their feet HT: Trafford 0-0 Hednesford Town The second half began with Hednesford on top and it was the visitors who almost broke the deadlock, when Elliott Durrell struck the foot of the post with Read beaten, before on the hour Durrell made amends as he fired across Read and into the far right-hand corner. This gave the visitors more belief and they began to make the better of the chances, with substitute Aaron Rey denied by Read from just inside the area.

Jack Keightley fired over with 10 minutes remaining as Trafford strove to find an equaliser, but two minutes later, Jamey Osborne ended the tie as a contest with a fine effort, again across Read and into the far corner. With four minutes remaining Aaron Rey somehow shot over from six-yards, before Shelton Payne almost gave Trafford some hope late on, when Luke Heron broke down the left and delivered a low cross. Godfrey Umokoro-Emu saw his effort blocked and the ball fell to Payne, but his stinging effort was blocked on the line, before he curled wide just after with Crane beaten.

But it wasn't to be, and it was the Premier Division side who progressed, thanks largely to a fine performance from goalkeeper Crane and more clinical finishing. Trafford now return their focus to league action on Tuesday night, when they travel to Farsley for a 7.45pm start before entertaining Goole on Saturday at 3pm.