HEDNESFORD TOWN 1, TRAFFORD 1

A severely depleted Trafford side came away from Hednesford with a highly creditable point in their opening NPL West Division fixture, particularly as they played the last 30 minutes with just ten men.
Glenn Matthews, Astley Mulholland, Rob Worrall, Max Hazeldine and Matty Barlow were all unavailable due to injury and illness and manager Danny Caldecott was forced to field five teenagers on the substitutes bench.
Despite these setbacks, Trafford made the perfect start when, after just four minutes, Jack Dorney swung a free kick in from the left and centre half Will Hall rose to plant a superb header into the bottom corner.
The visitors were well in control, playing some calm, composed football with Dorney bossing the midfield and Alfie Belcher should have done better with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was easily held by Dan Crane.
Hednesford had their first attempt on goal in the 25th minute when a Rivel Mardenborough header flew harmlessly wide and the same player blasted well over from the edge of the penalty area nine minutes later.
Town dangerman Harry Bower cracked a drive just wide from 30 yards but Trafford went in at half time comfortably in control albeit with a slender lead.
There was a slow start to the second half with Trafford appearing to sit back on their lead and soak up the pressure from the hosts but disaster struck in the 61st minute when Harry Norris, who had been booked by the over-zealous referee in the first half, tripped Mayemba and was immediately shown a red card.
Hednesford were buoyed by this incident and levelled ten minutes later when skipper Sam Griffiths rose at the back post to head home a right wing corner.
Trafford defended magnificently with striker Tom Bentham dropping back into defence to cover for the unfortunate Norris and the only time that goalkeeper Brad Rose was troubled was a shot by Mardenborough in the 86th minute that he bundled behind for a corner.
Despite referee Brooks inexplicably adding six minutes of added time, the valiant ten men of Trafford held firm to collect their first point of the season.
Trafford’s manager Danny Caldecott agreed that the game changed after the sending off. He said: “After going down to ten men the character they showed, to come away from here with a point, was absolutely incredible.
“I genuinely believe that if we’d have kept eleven men we would have taken the three points. We were well in control of the game at 1 – 0.”
On Tuesday Trafford entertain Clitheroe at Shawe View, kick off 7.45 p.m. before travelling to play Widnes on Saturday in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.