TRAFFORD FC boss Tom Baker must be cursing the Shawe View side's luck as they suffered two 1-0 defeats in the space of a couple of days.

Baker's side lost to Ossett Town on Saturday and Bamber Bridge on Monday night as they slipped to 16th spot in the Evo-Stik First Division North table.

But things could have been different had they converted their chances at the weekend.

New signing Phil Dean made an impression with several darting runs at the Ossett defence.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead on 12 minutes when Ossett keeper Tom Morgan could only parry Chris McDonagh's free-kick and then Joe Shaw bundled in the rebound only seeing his effort rules out for offside.

Morgan then produced two magnificent saves in the space of 30 seconds, tipping over a Jack Dorney thunderbolt from 25 yards and a goalbound header by Ryan Ledson from the resultant corner.

In the 40th minute Trafford felt hard done to once more when McDonagh glanced a header into the bottom corner only for the effort to be disallowed once again by a linesmans flag!

Trafford were well on top in the opening stages of the second half and Morgan performed more heroics to deny Phil Dean from point blank range

The visitors should have taken the lead on the hour mark when Dorney was tripped in the Ossett penalty area but McDonagh’s weak spot kick was blocked by Morgan.

McDonagh then headed wide following a right wing corner and Trafford were rocked in the 70th minute when Ossett took the lead completely against the run of play, Nathan Curtis heading home totally unmarked following a piercing cross from the left.

Lee Rick fired over as Trafford laid siege on the Ossett goal and in the 81st minute the Yorkshire side was reduced to 10 men when Tyrone Gay was sent off for a challenge on Phil Dean.

Despite throwing everything forward in an attempt to get back on level terms Trafford failed to hit the back of the net.

On Monday night, Bamber Bridge moved above Trafford in the table after a 1-0 loss where it could have been more.

Trafford started brightly with Chris McDonagh heading wide from eight yards following a Rick free-kick.

However, Bamber Bridge then totally dominated the remainder of the first half but suffered through missed chances, gallant defending and a brilliant goalkeeping display by Trafford’s young keeper Luke Pilling.

Matt Lawlor volleyed wide at the back post, Pilling tipped a Brett Ormerod effort over the bar and then an almighty goalmouth scramble ended with the visitors somehow scrambling the ball clear.

To his credit, Trafford manager Tom Baker changed his team’s formation at half time, reverting to a more conventional 4-4-2 and immediately giving the side greater width and balance.

Jack Dorney almost broke the deadlock following a neatly worked free kick in the 57th minute but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line.

There were still chances for both sides but the final whistle signalled another devastating defeat for Tom Baker’s side but they will now be focussing on Saturday’s home fixture against Harrogate Railway Athletic at Shawe View, kick off 3 p.m.