Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Trafford 4 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Trafford 4

11:09am Sunday 30th September 2012 in Sport

TRAFFORD produced another superb performance on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten start to the season to eleven games and win through to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy.

Home striker Nathan Cartman twice went close in the early stages, blasting in a shot that Tom Read pushed behind for a corner, and then firing into the side-netting from an acute angle.

However, Trafford stormed ahead in the 19th minute with a breathtaking goal by Shelton Payne, the quicksilver winger cutting inside from the right and then striking a spectacular drive from fully 30 yards that flew into the top corner.

This goal settled the visitors and they calmly dictated the play, producing patient and composed football that has become their trademark.

In the 28th minute Paul Ashton made it 2-0 when he struck a shot from 20 yards that deflected off a defenders boot and looped over goalkeeper Lee Ashforth.

Ashforth then brilliantly tipped another Shelton Payne thunderbolt over the crossbar before Nia Bayunu stooped to head in from close range after Harrogate had failed to clear a right wing corner.

Five minutes into the second half Michael Oates notched his 15th goal of the season when he dived in at the back post to head into the bottom corner following a great cross from Paul Ashton, and two minutes later it was almost 5-0 when Oates nutmegged Hopkins, cut in from the left, and crashed a shot against the near post.

Trafford then became uncharacteristically sloppy in their play and in the 76th minute Harrogate reduced the arrears when a free kick was curled in from the right and Jon Maloney rose to plant a header inside the far post.

Four minutes later, the home side struck again when more slack marking allowed Nathan Cartman to control the ball 15 yards out and strike a low drive into the bottom corner past the helpless Read.

The visitors tightened their control on the proceedings and finished the game strongly with substitute Danny Shannon going close with two low drives from just outside the penalty area.

Despite conceding two late goals, the management team of Garry Vaughan and Wayne Goodison were obviously delighted to progress into the next round and maintain their unbeaten record, although this will be put to the test on Saturday when they entertain Evo Stik Premier Division leaders Marine at Shawe View in an FA Cup third qualifying round tie, kick off 3 p.m.

Another bumper crowd is expected for this tie and spectators are advised to arrive early at the ground and not delay their appearance until five minutes before kick off.