BOOTLE 1 TRAFFORD 1

Mike Burke came off the bench to snatch a dramatic 95th minute equaliser and earn Trafford a crucial point at fourth placed Bootle on Good Friday.
Bootle danger-man Ben Hodkinson fired straight at Sam Booth in the 2nd minute and Conor Harwood half-volleyed over five minutes later as the hosts set the early pace.
However, both defences then got on top and there was a distinct lack of goalmouth action before the game sprung back into life in the 29th minute, Booth making two brilliant saves within seconds, blocking a low drive by Anthony Miley and then tipping a Conor Harwood pile-driver over the crossbar.
Bootle striker Jake Burton cracked a rasping shot from 25 yards inches past the upright and the first half ended with Hodkinson cutting in from the right and shooting across the face of the Trafford goal.
Joe Wooley’s overhead kick fell onto the roof of the net and Trafford skipper Harry Norris headed well over as both teams pushed forward at the start of the second period and in the 59th minute a fine move by the visitors ended with Jerome Wright curling a low cross that Bootle keeper Tony Thompson pushed to safety but then collided with Trafford striker Kanye Nisbett and was unconscious for several minutes.
Thompson recovered but was forced to leave the field and his place between the sticks was taken by midfielder and ex-Trafford player Scott Sephton.
Amazingly, within two minutes of the restart Bootle took the lead, Sephton’s long kick downfield eventually falling to Ben Hodkinson who stepped inside Glenn Matthews and fired into the bottom corner.
Sam Booth then produced two fine saves as Bootle sought a second with Hodkinson firing over from the edge of the penalty area.
In the 75th minute Trafford manager Karl Marginson made the brave and ultimately inspired decision to make a triple substitution, introducing Niall Cummins, Rob Worrall and Mike Burke to the action.
Matty Morgan fired over from 30 yards and Rob Worrall cracked a drive that was parried by Sephton, before a slick move down the right ended with Eddie Servuts crossing to the back post and Jerome Wright just failing to connect cleanly with a volley.
Niall Cummins presence up front was a telling factor and when the referee indicated that an additional ten minutes would be added due to the injury to Thompson, Trafford, and their wonderful fans, sensed an upset.
And five minutes into time-added-on, Marginson’s side mounted another incisive attack down the right, Eddie Servuts saw his shot blocked by Sephton and Mike Burke pounced to ram the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
The remaining minutes saw both defences on top once more and the game ended with Trafford absolutely delighted both with their battling performance and the point gained in their fight against relegation.