Trafford 1

TRAFFORD Football Club severly dented the championship aspirations of Hucknall Town on Saturday when the teams drew 1-1 in an intriging Unibond League Division One clash at Nottingham.

Hucknall set off like a house on fire with quicksilver striker Briscoe causing all sorts of problems for the Trafford centre backs Steve Raffell and Billy McCartney.

Briscoe shot wide in the 2nd minute and within seconds burst through again but was denied by a brave challenge by keeper Jim O'Donnell, the large home following braying in vain for a penalty.

Gradually, Trafford settled and Steve Burns drove a nine shot just wide from 25 yards in the 6th minute.

Five minutes later Hucknall were stunned when Trafford forged ahead, Darren Emmett striking a hard, low free kick into the bottom corner via the foot of the post.

Hucknall became increasingly frustrated and their cause was not helped by their over-critical supporters who were far too quick to criticise their under-pressure players.

In the 38th minute, Trafford won another free kick in an identical position to the one in which they had taken the lead but this time Hucknall keeper McCarthy produced a fine double save, first to deny Emmett's powerful drive and then push the rebound to safety as Simms attempted to force home the rebound.

Half time arrived with Trafford well worth their 1-0 lead and Hucknall looking tired, anixous and dispirited.

Three minutes into the second half Emmett almost struck again when Simms controlled neatly and laid the ball into his path, but the normally deadly striker smashed his drive over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

Then, in the 51 minute, Jamie Shepley had a great chance to double Trafford's lead but over-ran the ball after being put through by Vaughan.

The pattern of play continued with Trafford firmly in control when, in the 61st minute, Hucknall equalised completely against the run of play.

The big home side, well-known for their danger at set pieces, won a corner out on the right and when the ball was flighted in to the near post, Margerison glanced a header past the helpless O'Donnell.

The game was completely transformed as the home side, and their supporters, came alive, and Trafford were forced onto the defensive.

Hucknall laid siege on the Trafford goal and Jim O'Donnell produced three breathtaking saves to deny the rampant home side.

The final whistle arrived to signal the end of an intriguing clash that could have gone either way, although the biggest winner on the day was Droylsden manager Dave Pace who, as a result of his team's 3-1 win at Harrogate and Trafford's defiance at Hucknall, has now opened up a seven point gap at the top of the table.

On Saturday, Trafford travel to play Matlock Town in a Unibond fixture kicking off at 3pm and then they conclude their topsy-turvey season with a visit to Whitley Bay on May 1st.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.