TRAFFORD fell to a 2-0 defeat in their penultimate pre-season friendly at the First Point Shawe View Stadium on Tuesday evening despite a dominant second half.

The visitors were on top for much of the first period and took the lead in the 13th minute when Anthony Dudley struck a great drive into the top corner from 15 yards.

Nine minutes later man-of-the-match Dominic Hale made it two with a superb low drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Scott Sephton should have reduced the arrears when he headed over from a great position and Michael Bakare made several electrifying bursts down the right flank and struck the post just before half time as Trafford pushed forward.

Both teams made numerous substitutions throughout the second half and Trafford enjoyed the majority of the possession without creating any clear-cut opportunities.

However, they were unfortunate just three minutes from time when the marauding Ally Brown rounded off a sweeping move by the hosts with a shot that flew just wide of the far post.

It was a second blank for Tom Baker's side in five days after a goalless home draw against a Macclesfield XI last Friday.

Despite torrential rain falling throughout the day, the Shawe View pitch was in magnificent condition due to the sterling work of groundsman Graham Foxall and his assistants.

But it was the visitors who dominated the early exchanges with Michael Bakare twice firing just wide before curling a great long-range effort against the bar.

Wing back John Oyenuga made numerous piercing runs down the right flank and another rasping drive by Bakare was spectacularly tipped over by Terry Smith.

In the 39th minute Smith came to his side’s rescue once more when he bravely left his line to produce a point-blank save from Mathias Bakare.

With James Dean leading the line with power and poise, and young Sean Yeldrum making some electrifying bursts down the flanks, Trafford finished the first half strongly and Kingsley Williams blasted a great drive from 35 yards just over.

Trafford should have forged ahead in the 52nd minute when Dean powered in a header from a corner but Macc goalkeeper Joris Nzola pushed the ball past the upright.

Yahya Saeed then flashed a header just over and danger man Michael Bakare twice cut in from the right and fired just wide.

In the last minute Trafford should have snatched victory when a sweeping move down the right ended with Sephton screwing his shot wide from 15 yards.

Trafford round off their pre-season preparations on Saturday when they entertain Evo-Stik Premier League outfit Altrincham, kick off 3pm.