TRAFFORD fought back strongly to earn a point in a 1-1 draw against Droylsden and move up to second place in the Evo-Stik First Division North.

Droylsden almost took the lead in the first minute when Liam Caddick was clean through but home keeper Terry Smith blocked his shot from close range.

Trafford skipper Josh Granite then denied Adam Farrell with a last-ditch tackle and Smith saved a Tom Peers snapshot as the visitors dictated play with Luke Daly controlling the midfield.

In the 32nd minute Caddick struck the foot of the post following another slick move and Smith kept the hosts in the game once more when he tipped a Luke Daly free kick over the bar.

On the stroke of half time Droylsden finally scored the goal their superiority deserved when another neat move ended with the impressive Daly firing a fine angled drive inside the far post from 15 yards.

Trafford manager Tom Baker responded by introducing substitutes Jack Dorney and Luke Horrocks at the start of the second half and within seconds Dorney was desperately unlucky when he curled a shot against the upright from just inside the box.

Despite this, Trafford continued to struggle to play with their usual fluency with Aaron Burns an isolated figure up front and in the 59th minute Mark Derbyshire was brought on to replace Greg Daniels.

Trafford immediately began to play with more urgency and purpose and they equalised in the 68th minute when Liam Brownhill punted the ball downfield, Derbyshire rose to find Burns on the right flank and then received a neat return pass that he clipped past the oncoming James Coates.

Baker’s Boys were now in the ascendancy and in the 73rd minute Dorney struck a great low cross across the face of the Droylsden goal but no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Derbyshire then made a brilliant run down the left and crossed for Burns who fired over from six yards.

Trafford were piling forward in search of the winner and Derbyshire headed a Burns cross over the bar before Dorney screwed a volley wide from the edge of the box.

Despite the late pressure Trafford could not find a second goal although a win for the home side would have been an injustice for the impressive Droylsden outfit who had dominated the game in terms of possession.

However, the point gained means that Trafford move up to second place in the league and on Saturday they face a showdown at leaders Lancaster City.