NINE-man Trafford produced a colossal performance to earn a precious point at Mossley on Tuesday night.

The hosts were on top in the early stages winning a succession of free kicks and corners and they should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Mitchell Bryant broke clear but fired over with just goalkeeper Russ Saunders to beat.

Home striker Andy Keogh headed a left wing corner just wide but Trafford were easing their way into the game and Ben Deegan flashed an angled drive just wide from 20 yards.

However, in the 29th minute Deegan foolishly reacted to a high challenge by Ryan Marley and was immediately shown a red card leaving Trafford with a mountain to climb.

Luke Horrocks was looking impressive for Mossley with several darting runs and as half time approached Saunders pushed a snapshot by Keogh past the post and Marley headed another corner just wide.

The 10 men of Trafford were on top at the start of the second half and centre back Ryan Ledson headed a free-kick wide from a great position.

In the 61st minute disaster struck again for the visitors when they were reduced to nine men following a second yellow card for Ash Reece for a challenge.

Two minutes later Trafford almost took a shock lead when skipper Josh Granite headed against the outside of the post following an in-swinging free kick from debutant Lee Rick.

At the other end Russ Saunders held another low drive by Keogh and substitute Dave Short volleyed over from the edge of the area.

Trafford were playing with amazing discipline, organisation and spirit and in the 70th minute Jordan Hadfield burst forward and blasted a stunning drive from 25 yards that flew inches wide of the upright.

Jack Dorney was then very unfortunate when he failed to control a weak pass across the face of the Mossley goal.

Mossley poured forward in the closing stages in search of the winner but they found the Trafford defence to be in impenetrable form with Ledson and Granite magnificent in the centre, and full backs Robbie Bromley and Danny Lambert not yielding an inch.

And the fact that goalkeeper Saunders was not called upon to make a save of any note spoke volumes for the efforts of the men in front of him.

The final whistle arrived to signal a marvellous display by the nine men of Trafford and an extremely hard earned, but deserved, league point.

On Saturday Trafford travel to play Scarborough Athletic, kick off 3 p.m., and then on Tuesday night they play host to Prescot Cables, kick off 7-45 p.m.