'Young Guns' Out Of The Trophy - Rushall Olympic 1 v 0 TRAFFORD
Trafford crashed out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle, a goal after just four minutes putting the Walsall based Olympic though to the First Qualifying Round.
After a rather scrappy opening, Olympic striker Craig Bannister turned neatly on the edge of the penalty area and struck a low drive that Tom Read pushed round the post. From the resultant corner Nick Amos was totally unmarked and rose to head home and give his side the lead.
Trafford battled back and both Chris Lawton and Callum Byrne saw shots saved by home keeper Luke Cunningham.
Chris Morris then shot across the face of the Trafford goal following a slip by NiaBayunu and Read acrobatically turned a long range effort by Anthony Maguire over the crossbar.
Trafford midfielder Joe Shaw cleared another Nick Amos header off the line in the 32nd minute and Morris shot wide from 10 yards as Olympic continued to dominate.
However, Trafford finished the first half strongly with Warren Collier firing against the crossbar and then heading wide at the back post.
The opening stages of the second half were scrappy and disjointed with neither team creating any clearcut chances and Trafford manager Garry Vaughan introduced substitutes Kyle Harrop and Andy Lundy in an attempt to liven up proceedings.
Melford Knight headed a Paul Ashton free kick over the bar and a Chris Lawton header was cleared off the line by Adrian Smith as Trafford desperately sought an equaliser.
In the dying seconds NiaBayunu went agonisingly close to scoring when he met a Paul Ashton cross with a powerful header but Cunningham was alert to the danger and saved confidently.
The final whistle signalled a desperately disappointing result for the young Trafford side and they will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they travel to play AFC Fylde in an Evo-Stik League Division One North fixture kicking off at 3 p.m.
