A DISAPPOINTING first-half performance saw Trafford FC suffer a 2-1 defeat to Witton Albion.

After a cautious opening Tom Baker’s side fell behind in the eighth minute when they failed to clear a right wing corner and Daniel Andrews pounced to drive the ball home through the packed goalmouth.

A miskick by goalkeeper Russ Saunders almost lead to a second for the busy visitors before, in the 28th minute, Danny Caldercott was harshly adjudged to have pushed Andrews who blasted the resultant penalty into the roof of the net.

The Trafford supporters had to wait until the 40th minute before their first chance on goal, Jack Dorney breaking clear in the inside left channel but firing straight at goalkeeper Andrew Firth.

Three minutes later the visitors squandered an even better chance when Jamie Matthews stormed forward but chipped wide with just Saunders to beat.

Substitutes Dimitri Tuanzebe and Sam Noah were introduced into the action at the start of the second half and Trafford’s performance visibly improved.

Tuanzebe volleyed just wide from 15 yards and in the 56th minute Witton were fortunate to escape when Simon Woodford appeared to be pushed from behind, referee Sherwood ignoring Trafford’s furious appeals for a penalty.

Trafford were now playing with far greater urgency, intensity and purpose and in the 62nd minute Tuanzebe rounded off a slick move down the left to make it 2-1.

Witton dangerman Jamie Menagh twice went close to increasing the visitors lead but it was Trafford who were dominating and Tuanzebe went close again with a back post header that flew just wide.

Kyle Jacobs then saw his drive from 25 yards held by Firth before Sam Noah was desperately unlucky to head against the bar following a right wing cross.

Trafford pushed forward relentlessly but despite a number of goalmouth scrambles and a succession of corners they could not snatch that all important equaliser and so fell to a desperately disappointing defeat that sees them slip down to seventh place in the league table.