TRAFFORD booked their place in the final of the Integro League Cup on Tuesday night with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Buxton at the First Point Shawe View Stadium.

The visitors occupy seventh place in the Evo-Stik Premier with Trafford ninth in Evo-Stik West, but there was little to choose between the teams in a game that was generally defence dominated with neither goalkeeper having to produce a save of any note.

Buxton striker Diego De Girolamo rifled a drive just past the upright in the 15th minute but the best chance in the opening stages fell to Trafford’s Adam Farrell who blasted over with just Theo Roberts to beat.

Trafford’s centre-back partnership of Curtis Jones and Keil O’Brien were once again in imperious form and restricted Buxton to just one clear chance in the opening half when left-back Alex Brown found himself in space and fired over from 15 yards.

The visitors went close with two free kicks just after the interval, both flying just past the upright, and the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate when Trafford manager Tom Baker introduced substitute Darius Palma to replace the strangely ineffective Kamar Moncrieffe.

Palma immediately instilled greater drive, purpose and energy into the hosts and they should have taken the lead in the 74th minute when Farrell was clean through but volleyed against the bar from 10 yards.

However, three minutes later Farrell atoned for that miss with the winning goal, coolly rounding Roberts and clipping the ball into the roof of the net with great aplomb.

Buxton raised their game in the closing stages, speed merchant Jude Oyibo outpacing home full-back Joel Amado and whistling a drive inches wide and then Brad Roscoe glancing a header inches past the upright following a free kick from the right.

The final whistle signalled a superb victory for Baker’s much-changed side and they can now look forward to the final against Premier Division leaders Farsley Celtic at a venue yet to be decided.

On Saturday, Trafford return to league action when they entertain Clitheroe at the First Point Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3pm.