TRAFFORD collected their first point of the season on Tuesday night from a hard-fought, physical and exciting encounter at Skelmersdale United, drawing 1-1.

After losing their Evo-Stik North opener 2-1 at home to South Shields on Saturday, it was a tough test for the men from Shawe View.

The hosts created the first chance of the game in the 13th minute when danger man Andrew Owens controlled neatly, turned and shot just wide from 15 yards.

Trafford gradually assumed control of the midfield with Scott Sephton catching the eye and took the lead in the 17th minute when a left-wing corner fell to Paul Linwood just outside the penalty area and he blasted a great low drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The match was a contrast in styles with Skem playing long balls to their big striking duo of Owens and Richard Brodie and Trafford attempting to retain possession with their neat, composed, short passing game.

On the stroke of half time Skem almost equalised against the run of play when a magnificent drive by Owens from 25 yards was pushed to safety by visiting keeper Grant Shenton.

The second half started disastrously for Trafford when, within three minutes, Owens held off a challenge by Steve Mason in the inside left channel and blasted a thunderbolt past Shenton for the equaliser.

Buoyed by this goal, the hosts pushed forward with added determination and almost struck again in the 65th minute when centre-back Callum Jones met a right-wing corner with a powerful header that Shenton kept out with a superb reflex save.

Shenton performed further heroics five minutes later when he blocked a low drive by Brodie but Trafford manager Tom Baker made a number of substitutions, changed his team's formation, and his side weathered the storm.

In fact, the visitors could have clinched all three points in the closing minutes, James Dean firing past the upright from 15 yards and Ally Brown making a great run down the right that came to nothing before Jack Sims in the home goal saved gallantly deep into stoppage time following an almighty goalmouth scramble.

The final whistle signalled the end of an enthralling encounter with a draw perhaps a fair result and Trafford will now concentrate their efforts on Saturday's FA Cup preliminary-round tie when they host Kidsgrove Athletic at the First Point Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3pm.