TRAFFORD FC 3 v 3 MOSSLEY
Tuesday 16th March 2010
The Unibond League First Division North
A last gasp curling free kick by Shelton Payne earned Trafford a vital Unibond League point on Tuesday night when they fought back from two goals down to draw 3-3.
The in-form visitors, riding on a crest of a wave following five successive victories, quickly got into their stride and deservedly took the lead in the 10th minute when Chris McDonagh netted from 10 yards.
McDonagh doubled the visitors lead eight minutes later with a superbly directed header into the bottom corner following a free kick from the right.
At that stage, it appeared as though a rout was on the cards but in the 29th minute, and completely against the run of play, Shelton Payne broke down the left and crossed for Greg Hall to nudge the ball home from six yards despite Ben Richardson's vain attempt to hook the ball clear.
This goal seemed to galvanise Garry Vaughan's side and in the 34th minute Joe Shaw struck a great shot from 35 yards that struck the foot of the post.
Then, seconds before the interval, Glyn Barker had a great chance to equalise but blasted over from 10 yards after a quickly taken free kick.
Four minutes into the second half Trafford were level with Shelton Payne firing a free kick into the far corner past the bewildered Peter Collinge.
Both defences were allowing their opponents acres of space and chances went begging at both ends.
Trafford keeper Tom Read produced a brilliant save at point blank range and then Nia Buyunu denied McDonagh his hat-trick with a spectacular goal-line clearance.
Collinge pushed Joe Shaw's free kick from 30 yards behind for a corner and then Buyunu saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line.
Steve Moore and Andy Watson were both wasteful in front of goal for Mossley but the visitors once more went ahead in the 79th minute when horrendous marking by the Trafford defence allowed McDonagh to drive hard and low past read and complete a fine hat-trick.
McDonagh could have put the game out of sight in the 88th minute when, in an amazing goalmouth scramble, he had three efforts from close range that were all thwarted by the heroic Read.
Then, four minutes into injury time, an incredible game reached a crescendo when Trafford were awarded a free kick 20 yards out and Shelton Payne curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
On Saturday Trafford travel to league leaders Lancaster City for a 3 p.m. kick off and then on Thursday night they entertain Radcliffe Borough in the semi Final of the Manchester Premier Cup, kick off 7-45 p.m.
Trafford FC Team: Tom Read, Ryan Marley, Chris Lawton, Nia Bayunu, Max Kisseh, Simon Gallanders, Joe Shaw, Melford Knight, Greg Hall (Marvin McDonald 76), Glyn Barker (Jake Williamson 64), Shelton Payne.
Subs Not Used: Craig Hall, Nikos Papargiris, Papis Dietye.
Goals: (Mossley) McDonagh 10, 18, 79) (Trafford FC) G. Hall 29, (Trafford FC) Payne 49, (Mossley) McDonagh 79, (Trafford FC) Payne 90 (pen).
