Ossett Town 2 Trafford 2

TRAFFORD threw away a two goal lead in this FA Trophy First Qualifying Round Tie as the Yorkshire sides’ spirited second half display earned them a replay at Shawe View on Tuesday night.

The visitors short passing game was hindered by a difficult surface but they almost took an early lead when, in the seventh minute, Rory Fallon rifled in a drive from 20 yards that Brad Dixon pushed behind. From the resultant neatly worked corner, Shelton Payne fired just wide.

Ossett striker Chris Wood appealed in vain for a penalty as Nia Bayunu appeared to trip him but Garry Vaughan’s side stormed ahead in the 29th minute when a great drive from 25 yards by Fallon cannoned back into play off the crossbar, Bayunu collected the rebound to feed Payne and the quicksilver winger buried his shot inside the far post.

Three minutes later the visitors struck again although there was an element of good fortune about the goal as left back Andy Smart saw his thunderbolt from 25 yards strike Ossett centre half Grant Allott on the side of the head and deflect into the bottom corner.

Allott almost made amends shortly afterwards when he headed a free kick over the crossbar but a highly satisfactory half ended with Trafford comfortable with their two goal advantage.

Ossett introduced diminutive winger Josh Whiteley into the action for the start of the second half and he made an immediate impact with a deep cross from the left that was headed back across goal for dangerman Chris Wood to ram home from close range.

And amazingly in the 59th minute Wood struck again to level the score when he capitalised on more slack defending by Trafford to coolly slot the ball past Andy Robertson from six yards.

The visitors roused themselves from their stupor and Shelton Payne fired wide after a great cross field pass by Simon Hackney. Michael Oates then wasted a great opportunity when he burst through on the left and Payne twice broke clear only to be denied by rather contentious offside decisions.

Referee Hope from Preston was failing to clamp down on the home team’s over physical approach and in the dying seconds things boiled over when Trafford centre back Nia Bayunu allowed his frustrations to get the better of him and was sent off for retaliation.