TRAFFORD bounced back from Saturday’s FA Cup heartbreak at Ashton United to record a magnificent 1-0 victory at Ramsbottom United in Evo-Stik West on Tuesday night.

The visitors were on top from the start with Ally Brown volleying wide in the first minute and Sam Heathcote cracking a free kick from 25 yards just past the upright.

Heathcote then saw his goalbound header from a right-wing corner clawed to safety by Sam Ashton and an intriguing half came to an end with the score goalless.

However, nine minutes into the second period Trafford edged ahead when Jack Dorney’s deep corner from the left was coolly controlled by Heathcote beyond the far post and he unleashed a superb low drive that whistled into the bottom corner.

Tom Baker’s side should have added to their tally with some lightning-fast breaks that came to nothing, Ashton tipping a Matty Bryan drive past the post and Brown rounding off a slick move but firing into the side-netting.

Substitute Mark Derbyshire produced another little cameo, storming through but shooting straight at Ashton and then seeing the home keeper tip a stinging drive over from just outside the penalty area.

Ashton blocked another Bryan effort in the dying seconds but the final whistle arrived to signal a brilliant victory that should give them great confidence ahead of Saturday’s FA Trophy encounter with Colne.

Four days earlier, Trafford exited the FA Cup with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at National League North outfit Ashton after four minutes of madness by defender Matt Mahoney cost them dear.

The visitors showed great discipline and organisation in the opening stages and created the best chance in the 23rd minute when Bryan broke down the right and crossed to Darius Palma whose close-range shot was blocked by a United defender.

Two minutes later disaster struck when Mahoney was caught in possession inside his own penalty area by Matthew Chadwick and hauled the United danger man to the ground. Chadwick dusted himself down to crash the spot-kick past Matt Cooper and give his side a lead they hardly deserved.

And four minutes later the hot-headed defender launched himself into a reckless challenge on Chadwick midway inside the United half that left the winger spread-eagled and gave referee Copeland no option but to brandish a red card.

Despite this setback, Trafford defended superbly with Keil O’Brien and Heathcote outstanding and United were restricted to just one attempt on goal when Chadwick struck a free kick in the 44th minute that was saved at the foot of the near post by Cooper.

Five minutes into the second half Chadwick cut in from the right and unleashed a thunderous drive that cannoned back into play off the bar and on the hour Trafford manager Baker introduced substitute Derbyshire to the fray.

Derbyshire made an immediate impact with some powerful determined runs that, allied to his aerial strength, caused problems for the home defence.

And in the 72nd minute he was desperately unlucky not to force the equaliser when his first time drive from Bryan’s superb cross from the left, struck United goalkeeper Luke Pilling and flew to safety.

Heathcote then curled a shot inches over from the right as Trafford’s 10 men put up a gallant fight but in the 82nd minute victory was sealed for the hosts when a slick move orchestrated by Chadwick ended with Bradley Jackson firing past Cooper from 15 yards.

Two minutes into stoppage time the scoring was completed when Nic Evangelinos tapped home from four yards following good work by Casian Anghel.