by Dave Law TRAFFORD mounted a spirited second half comeback at Matlock Town on Saturday but slumped to a third successive defeat in a week.

The home side edged the opening exchanges with a series of dangerous crosses to put the Trafford defence under pressure.

But in the 16th minute the visitors stunned the home supporters when they took the lead with a superb goal, Simon Hackney neatly controlling a long pass by Andy Smart and lifting the ball over Jonathan Hedge from 25 yards.

Tragically, within a minute Matlock were back on level terms when a high ball into the Trafford penalty area was headed down by Danny Holland and Shaun Tuton, possibly in an offside position, slotted home past Kieran O’Hara.

The home side now took control of the game, playing with an intensity that Trafford struggled to cope with, and full backs Micky Harcourt and Oscar Radford both went close to giving them the lead.

James Ashmore then blasted a great drive from 30 yards just past the upright before Matlock stormed ahead five minutes before half time when a deep free kick by Corey Gregory was headed home at the back post by Harcourt.

Kieran O’Hara twice blocked close range efforts by Gregory and Holland in the opening minutes of the second half before Trafford scored a fine equaliser in the 69th minute, Paul Ashton breaking clear on the left and blasting the ball past the advancing Jonathan Hedge.

The visitors joy lasted just six minutes as Matlock struck again in the 75th minute, James Ashmore blasting a superb volley from 25 yards into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of O’Hara.

Trafford gave it their all in a desperate battle for a point but the nearest they came to an equaliser was a free kick by the normally deadly left foot of Andy Smart that was held at the foot of the post by Hedge.