Trafford 2 Bamber Bridge 0 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford 2 Bamber Bridge 0

12:32pm Monday 18th March 2013 in Sport

TRAFFORD got back to winning ways with a hard fought but deserved victory over in-form Bamber Bridge at Shawe View on Saturday.

Garry Vaughan’s side had failed to win in their five previous games whereas their opponents came into the game on the strength of six successive victories.

Despite this, there was little to choose between the teams in a disappointing first half in which there was a dearth of goalmouth action.

Trafford keeper Tom Read breathed a sigh of relief in the 18th minute when his attempted clearance struck Bridge skipper Matty Kay and flew just wide of the upright whilst at the other end a Michael Oates drive was easily held by Lee Dovey.

The best chance of a scrappy half came seconds before the interval when Trafford right winger Rory Fallon cut in from his flank and fired in a low shot that was held at full stretch by Dovey.

In the 52nd minute Trafford’s appeals for a penalty were turned down when Dovey appeared to barge into Steve Mason and play was immediately switched to the other end where Tom Read produced a superb save to thwart Alistair Waddecar.

The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark when Andy Smart drilled a great low cross across the face of the Bridge goal and Ally Brown arrived to tap in at the back post.

Two minutes later the points were virtually secured when Michael Oates cut in from the left, outpaced the visitors defence and poked the ball past the advancing Dovey.

Bridge made three substitutions in an attempt to force their way back into the game but the home defence, in which Nia Bayunu was outstanding and Steve Mason was back to his commanding self, were rarely troubled and the final whistle arrived to signal a much needed victory for the Shawe View outfit.

Trafford will be hoping to build on this victory on Saturday when they are in action once again at Shawe View, Clitheroe being the visitors for a game that kicks off at 3 pm.