Trafford 0 Curzon Ashton 3 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford 0 Curzon Ashton 3

1:37pm Sunday 3rd March 2013 in Sport

TRAFFORD’S goal drought continued when they failed to score for a third consecutive game and fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of in-form Curzon Ashton.

The visitors fortuitously went ahead after just nine minutes when formerTrafford winger Scott Metcalfe mishit a shot from the edge of the area that fell into the path of leading scorer Kristian Dennis who side-footed home from six yards.

Two minutes later Trafford should have been on level terms when Michael Oates was upended in the area but the home striker dusted himself down and then saw his weak penalty saved by Josh Ollerenshaw.

The visitors were in the ascendancy with skipper Sam Walker flashing a header just wide and Scott Metcalfe producing a spectacular overhead kick that was held by Tom Read.

Walker curled a free kick just wide before some sustained Trafford pressure ended with Michael Oates chipping wide with just Ollerenshaw to beat and then left back Andy Smart blasting a magnificent drive against the post from 25 yards.

The first half ended with another former Trafford favourite Simon Woodford heading a free kick into Read’s hands from eight yards.

Chris McDonagh wasted a great position at the start of the second half whilst at the other end Michael Oates stumbled when he looked certain to score.

Chris Rowney saw his long range effort parried by Read before disaster struck for Garry Vaughan’s side in the 66th minute when a fine move ended with Dennis cutting in from the right and cracking in a low drive to make it 2-0.

In the 75th minute Trafford produced their best move of the game but once again luck was against them as Michael Oates ground shot cannoned back into play off the foot of the post.

And to compound matters, the points were sealed seven minutes later when the home side failed to clear a free kick from the left and Sam Walker pounced on the loose ball to ram his shot past the helpless Read.

Substitute Matthew Purcell should have made it four when sent clear in the closing minutes but Read saved bravely at point blank range and to their credit Trafford battled to the end with Andy Smart curling a free kick inches wide and Ollerenshaw producing a great double save to thwart Martyn Andrews and Steve Mason.

This defeat sends Trafford down into fourth place in the Evo Stik League Division One North table and they will be more determined than ever to halt the slide on Tuesday night when they travel to play Prescot Cables, kick off 7-45 p.m., and on Saturday when they visit Mossley.