TRAFFORD produced another disappointing home performance against lowly Mossley in a 1-1 draw on Saturday, but despite dropping two points remain in third position in Evo-Stik First Division North.

After a lively and physical start to the game, Sam Livesey went close for the visitors with a header onto the roof of the net while Ash Woods nodded over from eight yards for Trafford.

Mossley’s impressive striker Mason Duffy struck a close-range volley that was bravely blocked by Ally Brown and in the 37th minute Duffy blasted a great curling drive from 25 yards that was brilliantly finger-tipped to safety by Terry Smith. However, from the resulting corner slack marking by the Trafford defence allowed Mossley skipper Tom Dean to head home unchallenged from six yards.

Trafford were struggling to penetrate the well-drilled Mossley defence and despite two excellent runs down the flanks by Aaron Burns and Brown they were unable to create any goalscoring opportunities.

The hosts came out for the second half in a much more determined mood with Lee Neville heading over in the 51st minute and Liam Brownhill twice going close with thunderous efforts on goal.

Burns saw his shot pushed into the side-netting by Will Jones before Trafford were finally rewarded for their dominance with the equaliser, Brownhill and Burns linking neatly at a right-wing corner and the former floating a delightful cross to the back post where Andy Langford headed home.

Tom Baker’s side were now pushing forward in search of the winner and Brown whistled a cross across the face of the Mossley goal before Kingsley Williams screwed his shot wide from just outside the penalty area.

But it was Mossley, in fact, who went closest to snatching the winner when they twice launched quick breakaways, Matty Burke and Jordan Bove cracking low drives that were both parried by Smith.

Brownhill had two good chances to break the deadlock with free kicks from good positions but was uncharacteristically wasteful and a disappointing game came to an end with the spoils shared.

Trafford will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they make the long journey to Bridlington to face Scarborough Athletic, kick off 3pm.