TRAFFORD FC experienced the highs and lows in the space of three days last weekend.

After losing at home to Ossett Albion 1-0 in the league they went to Hyde United and booked their place in the semi-finals of the Manchester Premier Cup with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory after a 3-3 draw.

A superbly organised Ossett side edged a scrappy game that was ruined by the gale force winds on Saturday.

The Shawe View pitch was in excellent condition and it was the visitors who started the brighter, taking the lead after just five minutes when a neat move down the right ended with a cross to the back post where Luke Porritt fired home totally unmarked.

Both defences were then on top for the remainder of the first half with the only chance of any note being a cross from the right by Chris Palmer that big Sam Noah just failed to convert at the far post.

Fifth-place in Evo-Stik First Division, five above Trafford, Ossett started the second half in similar fashion to the first with Connor Brunt breaking down the right in the 48th minute and cracking a low drive that Russ Saunders held at full length.

Trafford then enjoyed a period of dominance in which Ashley Stott volleyed wide, skipper Kyle Jacobs saw his drive well held by Brett Souter, and Sam Noah fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end, Danny South almost made it two but headed a right wing corner straight at Saunders, and then Ossett danger man Rob Bordman rifled a drive from 30 yards inches over before curling in a shot that Saunders held comfortably.

Jack Dorney then saw his free kick from just outside the penalty area deflected behind before Noah headed the resultant corner straight at Souter.

The final whistle signalled the end of a disappointing game although the elements made creative football almost impossible.

On Monday Trafford deservedly reached the last four at Hyde.

The visitors got off to the perfect start with Jack Dorney putting them ahead in the fifth minute, cutting in from the right flank and unleashing a stunning 25-yard drive into the top corner.

Dorney almost struck again just four minutes later in a carbon copy move but this time his shot whistled inches past the far post.

In the 13th minute the rampant Trafford side doubled their lead when Palmer’s right wing corner was flicked on and Ryan Ledson arrived at the back post to power his header past Ed Wilczynski.

Tom Baker’s team should have put the tie out of sight in the 19th minute when a superb move ended with Noah breaking clear down the middle but he hesitated and allowed Luke Trimble to clear the danger with a last-ditch tackle.

Trafford were playing with tremendous energy and spirit but were caught out just before half time when Scott Spencer broke down the left and crossed for Peter Boyle to bundle the ball in from close range.

The second half began in a similar vein to the first with both teams pushing forward at every opportunity and Dimitri Tuanzebe should have made it 3-1 in the 59th minute but shot against Wilczynski from point-blank range.

However, within 60 seconds substitute Connor Martin restored Trafford’s two-goal lead when he rounded off a great move down the right with a superb drive into the top corner from 10 yards.

Trafford’s appeals for a penalty then fell on deaf ears as Dorney appeared to be pushed and in the 63rd minute the hosts pulled a goal back when another right wing corner was headed in at the back post by Ayrton Bevins.

The visitors thought they should have had another penalty when Palmer was tripped when storming into the penalty area.

Martin then fired wide following a Tuanzebe cross and in the 81st minute Trafford were ruing their misfortune when Hyde equalised, captain Spencer Harris heading home from six yards following a free kick on the right by Jordan Snodin.

Both teams were now pushing forward in search of the winner and in injury time Palmer blasted a great low drive that was well held by Wilczynski.

A tremendously entertaining game came to a close with no extra time but immediate penalties.

The first penalty by Hyde left back Lee Neville struck the upright and all the other nine players expertly converted theirs.

Trafford are away to Harrogate Railway Athletic in the league on Saturday.