A BRILLIANT individual goal by Kingsley Williams just before half time at Prescot Cables secured FA Cup progress for Trafford and earned them a home tie in the first qualifying round against Cheadle Town on September 3.

The visitors played the more controlled and composed football throughout with Williams, Kyle Jacobs and Nicky Platt dominating the midfield but finding it difficult to break down the well-drilled Prescot defence.

It was the hosts who had the first attempt on goal when, in the 33rd minute, a free kick from the left was headed over at the back post by centre-back James McCulloch.

In the 41st minute, Williams’ moment of magic arrived when he collected the ball in midfield, set off on a surging run that took him past three defenders and then rifled a low drive into the far corner from just inside the penalty area.

Prescot appeared to play with greater urgency in the second half and in the 47th minute Lloyd Dean fired just wide from the edge of the area.

Connor Martin replaced fellow-striker Mark Derbyshire as Trafford sought a second goal and in the 54th minute he was involved in a fine move with Platt that ended with a Williams shot being parried by Tom Brocklehurst.

Aaron Burns then saw his low drive ruled out for offside, Platt blasted inches wide from 30 yards and substitute Grant Spencer was unlucky in the 71st minute when his shot from the edge of the penalty area rebounded into play off the foot of the post.

It was now all Trafford and Spencer twice shot just wide, Martin fired into the side-netting and Luke Horrocks failed by inches to connect with a Burns cross from the left.

Trafford were almost made to regret those missed chances when, in the 87th minute, Prescot should have snatched an equaliser – Joe Herbert glancing a header wide from just six yards with the goal at his mercy.

However, anything other than a Trafford victory would have been an injustice as they dictated play for long spells and should have been more ruthless in front of goal, and they can look forward with confidence to the Cheadle tie.

On Saturday, Trafford return to Hallmark Security League First Division action when they entertain Ossett Town at Shawe View.

Then, on Bank Holiday Monday, they make the short journey to Radcliffe Borough.