TEN-man Stamford snatched a point with an equaliser by skipper Jordan Smith seven minutes from time in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Shawe View.

Trafford started brightly with Chris McDonagh glancing a header inches over in the 3rd minute and Astley Mulholland lobbing wide with visiting keeper Neil O’Sullivan stranded.

But it was the visitors who took the lead when, in the 27th minute, a long kick downfield was headed on and with Trafford vainly appealing for offside Ryan Robbins stormed forward to crash a great drive into the roof of the net from 20 yards.

There was little goalmouth action for the remainder of the first half but as the teams left the field for half time, there was a fracas in which Robbins was red-carded for attempting to head-butt Trafford manager Graham Heathcote.

The hosts dominated for long spells throughout the second half with Astley Mulholland squandering two good chances to equalise and it was left to right back Chris Palmer to show his team-mates the way when firstly he levelled in the 62nd minute by forcing the ball home at the back post and six minutes later made it 2-1 with a neat finish from close range following a Mulholland cross.

It was now all Trafford and Mulholland had two further chances to increase the lead before Jimmy McCarthy saw a low drive held by O’Sullivan and Jeff King ended a great run with a blistering shot that flew inches wide.

But the big, physical Lincolnshire side were always a danger from set pieces and so it proved in the 83rd minute when Jon Challinor curled a free kick in from the left and Jordan Smith timed his run to perfection to power a header past Tom Read.

Both sides pushed forward in search of the winner with Mulholland firing wide once more and Trafford skipper Martyn Andrews screwing his shot wide from 15 yards.

At the other end Tom Read produced a good save to thwart Tom Batchelor and then two minutes into stoppage time performed even better to deny Courtney Meade as the visiting striker broke clear.

But once again it was a case of what should have been for the Shawe View outfit as they were left to rue missed chances and conceded a late goal once more to ruin their chances of victory.

Trafford will be desperate to end their barren run on Saturday when they entertain Barwell at Shawe View in a league fixture kicking off at 3 pm.