TRAFFORD showed tremendous spirit and resolve to battle back from two goals down and earn a point from their Evo-Stik First Division North home clash against Clitheroe.

The hosts started brightly with Lee Neville fizzing a volley just wide from a well-worked corner in the first minute.

However, the home supporters were stunned in the 16th minute when Clitheroe striker Brad Carroll pounced on a right-wing cross to net at the back post and put the visitors ahead.

Seven minutes later a rare error by Trafford keeper Terry Smith gifted Clitheroe a second goal when he fumbled a cross and Dimitri Tuanzebe tapped in from two yards.

Trafford were struggling to play with their usual cohesion but they were thrown a lifeline in the 38th minute when Andy Langford’s low drive from 25 yards was pushed past the post by Chris Thompson and from the resulting corner skipper Josh Granite powered a superb header into the top corner.

The remaining minutes of the first half saw the hosts pushing forward in search of the equaliser, Ally Brown seeing his shot blocked from 10 yards and leading goalscorer Aaron Burns being denied by another good save by Thompson.

The play became scrappy and disjointed in the opening minutes of the second half.

However, Shawe View manager Tom Baker introduced substitutes Jonah Gosling and Ash Woods and his team began to dominate.

Burns volleyed inches over from 15 yards and in the 76th minute Trafford equalised with a magnificent goal.

Keeper Smith started the move with a quick throw to Gosling on the right and the fleet-footed winger set off on a brilliant run before crossing into the path of Andy Langford, who controlled neatly and coolly placed his shot inside the right-hand post.

A minute later Trafford’s appeals for a penalty were ignored when Burns appeared to be pushed from behind but the hosts were now well on top and sensed a victory was on the cards.

Clitheroe keeper Thompson produced another fine save to deny Kingsley Williams, a Neville volley was hacked clear and Alex Frost and Woods both sent headers agonisingly wide.

Try as they might Trafford could not snatch the winner but could take great credit for fighting back from two goals down.

After Tuesday night's away date at Prescot Cables was postponed, Trafford look to get back to winning ways at Burscough on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

New forward Andy Keogh, signed from Mossley on Tuesday, could make his debut in that game.