TRAFFORD 1 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1

Matty Morgan made a sensational return to Trafford, coming on as a substitute on the hour mark and cracking a superb equaliser with just two minutes remaining to earn his side a point.
After a scrappy start, the first chance of any note fell to home midfielder Sam Gill in the 13th minute when his snapshot from the edge of the penalty area was held by Luke Hewitson.
A minute later the Celtic keeper saved at full length to thwart Tom Beckett before, in the 21st minute, Obua Mugalulu broke clear of the Trafford defence but was denied by a superb save by Sam Booth.
Eddie Servuts and Jordan Fagbola both fired just wide for Karl Marginson’s side before Celtic forged ahead in the 32nd minute, Mugalulu holding off a challenge by Sean Higgins and setting up Cole Lonsdale who rifled an unstoppable drive into the opposite bottom corner.
Two minutes later, danger-man Mugalulu broke clear again but Sam Booth performed more heroics to produce another brilliant save.
It was now all Celtic with Cole Lonsdale flighting a free kick from the right into the side-netting and, on the stroke of half-time, Mugalulu striking a low drive that was saved by Booth’s outstretched leg.
Mugalulu headed over from ten yards in the opening minutes of the second half and a powerful drive by Sam Gill was headed clear by Celtic skipper Connor O’Grady as Trafford sought a way back into the game.
And their hopes were boosted by yet another wonderful save by Sam Booth in the 54th minute when he flung himself to his right to block a fierce, goal-bound shot by Joe Robbins.
Shortly afterwards, a cross by Tom Beckett almost crept inside Hewitson’s right hand post before the Celtic keeper clawed the ball to safety and then a Harry Norris header was cleared off the line by Lonsdale.
Manager Marginson introduced substitute Matty Morgan following his brief three month spell in Australia but Trafford’s hopes of a comeback received a devastating blow in the 75th minute when Jerome Wright accidentally caught Celtic substitute Darius Palma in the face and was immediately, and controversially, shown a red card.
The ten men of Trafford fought gallantly to the end and in the 88th minute they were rewarded for their enterprise when the ball fell to Matty Morgan 25 yards out and he struck a magnificent volley that arrowed into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later Trafford skipper Harry Norris saw his glancing header saved by Hewitson but Celtic finished the stronger and pushed forward in search of the winner.
O’Grady headed over following a free kick from the right and Trafford survived several goalmouth scrambles before, six minutes into injury time, Cole Lonsdale broke into the visitors penalty area and received a second yellow card, and a subsequent red, for a blatant dive.
The final whistle signalled the end of an enthralling game played in front of another bumper crowd of just under 600 with Trafford earning a point thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Sam Booth and a brilliant late goal by the returning Matty Morgan.
On Thursday Trafford entertain Glossop North End in the Quarter Final of the Manchester Premier Cup, kick off 7-45pm, before travelling to Runcorn Linnets on Saturday for another intriguing NPL West Division fixture.