TRAFFORD slipped down to fourth in the Evo-Stik First Division North table when they were held to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating Boxing Day clash at Colwyn Bay.

After a tentative opening, the visitors should have taken the lead in the seventh minute when Ally Brown burst clear but was denied by a brave block by Karl Wills.

And Trafford were made to regret that miss in the 16th minute when a fine move by Bay ended with Scott Bakkor breaking down the middle and slotting the ball past the advancing Terry Smith.

Danny Andrews then struck an audacious shot from deep on the right-hand touchline that drifted wide of the upright with Smith stranded while, at the other end, Aaron Burns rifled a drive inches over from 20 yards.

In the 37th minute Trafford squandered a great chance of an equaliser when Burns pulled the ball across the face of the Bay goal but Jonah Gosling lacked composure and blasted his shot over from 12 yards.

The visitors finished the half the stronger team and after Kingsley Williams fired wide from 25 yards, Brown drove wastefully wide of the near post after cutting in from the left.

The second half was totally dominated by the visitors and in the 49th minute they were denied a penalty when Tom Hardwick appeared to block Brown’s low cross from the right.

Manager Tom Baker introduced substitutes Filose Irakoze and Mark Derbyshire and after a succession of corners came to nothing, they finally equalised in the 69th minute when Derbyshire flung himself at a Lee Neville cross and headed powerfully into the bottom corner.

Trafford sensed victory but failed to break down the well-organised Bay defence a second time and it was the hosts who came closest to snatching a win in the dying seconds when Luke Denson struck a low free kick from 20 yards that Smith saved at full length.

An enthralling game came to a close with a draw perhaps a fair result, although Trafford had dominated possession, and the point gained keeps Baker’s side in the play-off positions and extends their unbeaten league run to 12 games. They will be hoping to extend this run further tonight when they entertain third-placed Glossop North End at Shawe View, kick off 7.45pm.