TRAFFORD fell to a 2-1 defeat against Scarborough Athletic in an enthralling encounter at the First Point Shawe View Stadium last weekend.

After Trafford centre-back Steve Mason glanced a near-post header just over following a left wing corner, the visitors began to take control of the Evo-Stik North clash and James Walshaw saw his snapshot from 20 yards held by Grant Shenton.

Walshaw then missed a glorious opportunity when he volleyed wide from six yards after a breathtaking run down the right by Max Wright and he missed another good chance on the half-hour mark when he fired into the side-netting from eight yards.

In the 36th minute Trafford debutant Dominic McHale, a loan signing from Salford City, collected the ball just inside the Boro penalty area but saw his goalbound shot deflected inches wide and Lee Neville’s close-range shot was blocked as the home side grew in confidence.

Disaster struck in the 41st minute when Boro won a corner on the right. The ball was flighted to the back post and Walshaw rose to power his header past Shenton.

And just three minutes into the second half the visitors were gifted a second goal when Neville failed to control an innocuous low cross from the left and the ball trickled into the bottom corner.

Shenton produced a magnificent save in the 62nd minute to prevent Wright from making it three and almost immediately Aaron Burns should have reduced the arrears when he was released down the middle by a superb Scott Sephton pass but drove the ball against the foot of the post, McHale blasting the rebound well over.

However, this seemed to breathe fresh confidence into the hosts and in the 66th minute Laurence Taylor cut in from the right and squared the ball to Declan Rydings who turned the ball in from close range.

Mason flashed another header past the post following a corner from the left and Trafford’s hopes were boosted in the 75th minute when Boro were reduced to 10 men following a dangerous lunging tackle by James Beadle on Rydings.

Trafford poured forward in search of the equaliser and Neville should have done better when he failed to connect properly with a Rydings cross at the back post before McHale shot wastefully wide from 15 yards.

Keil O’Brien headed onto the roof of the net and McHale struck a free kick into the defensive wall as Trafford pounded away at the visitors defence but the Yorkshiremen held firm, backed by their magnificent support, and the final whistle signalled three crucial points in their quest for automatic promotion.

* Trafford are holding a Sportspersons Evening at Davyhulme Park Golf Club on Friday, March 2 with ex-Newcastle, Manchester City and England centre-back Steve Howey the guest speaker. The comedian is Tony Roscoe, compere Pete McGrath, and further details and tickets can be obtained from David Law on 07772 287086.