TRAFFORD dominated their final away game of the season for long spells but were guilty of missing chances and fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat.

The visitors started brightly with some neat possession football on a difficult surface and in the 11th minute Scott Barlow headed weakly at goalkeeper Lee Dovey from close range.

Joe Shaw then pulled the ball across the face of the goal with Barlow just failing to connect before Bamber Bridge took the lead on the half hour mark with their first attempt on goal.

George Bowyer cut in from the right and cracked in a low stinging drive that was superbly saved by Andy Robertson. Cruelly, the ball fell kindly to Andy Bell who fired in the rebound via the right knee of Farrell Kilbane.

Trafford were undaunted by this setback and pinned the home side back into their own half.

Joe Shaw saw his free kick pushed to safety by Dovey, volleyed wide and was then denied a penalty after appearing to be tripped.

Scott Barlow then shot agonisingly wide of the post and on the stroke of half time Danny Shannon turned neatly in the box and fired a low drive that cannoned back into play off the upright.

The second half was a big disappointment with both teams repeatedly giving the ball away and there was a distinct lack of goalmouth action.

Joe Shaw brightened things up slightly for the visitors with a thunderous drive from 30 yards that flew just over whilst at the other end Danny Mahoney almost made it two when he headed a right wing corner against the post.

Scott Barlow saw his snapshot held by Dovey but the best chance of the second period fell to Andy Bell when he broke completely clear of the Trafford defence in the 82nd minute but lacked composure and Andy Robertson forced him to fire wide.

Mahoney blasted in a shot from 20 yards that was well held by Robertson but the game came to a close with Trafford lacking the creative spark that was needed to break down the well drilled home defence.

Trafford will be hoping to end the season on a high on Saturday when they entertain local rivals Radcliffe Borough at Shawe View in an Evo Stik League Division One North encounter kicking off at 3pm.