Trafford were robbed of a crucial league point by a controversial 97th minute winner by an over-physical Kidsgrove side and some extremely debatable decisions by the referee and his assistants.
Karl Marginson’s side started brightly with Damola Sotona fizzing a ball across the face of the Kidsgrove goal after just four minutes.
At the other end Tom Pope’s low drive was blocked by the Trafford defence and in the 16th minute visiting keeper Sam Booth saved at full length to thwart Pope.
No quarter was given as the game swung from end to end with both teams committed to attack, Trafford playing neat composed football whenever possible and Grove launching the ball forwards at every opportunity and relying on their giant and uncompromising strike force of Tom Pope and Matt Rhead.
Trafford began to get on top with Matty Morgan swinging over a free kick that Kieran Harrison pushed to safety and Rio Clegg brilliantly outfoxing two home defenders before shooting straight at Harrison.
The hosts dominated as half-time approached, Sam Booth parrying a Kyle Blake header from point blank range before producing two magnificent saves on the stroke of half-time to thwart Tom Pope and Aaron Bott.
The amazingly high tempo continued throughout the second half with Trafford skipper Harry Norris seeing his goal-bound header cleared off the line and Kieran Harrison saving superbly to deny Rio Clegg.
In the 71st minute Trafford thought they had taken the lead when Matty Morgan broke through and clipped the ball past Harrison but after a lengthy stoppage in which the partisan home supporters and Kidsgove players appeared to influence the officials, the ‘goal’ was disallowed because Rio Clegg was deemed to be in an offside position, although not interfering with play.
In the 74th minute there was more controversy when Trafford substitute Matty Lusakueno, who had only been on the pitch for thirteen minutes, chased a long ball down the left and was blatantly pushed into the perimeter fencing by a Grove defender. Instead of the hosts being reduced to ten men, amazingly no action was taken by the referee.
Grove poured forward in the closing stages, winning a succession of free kicks and corners but Trafford keeper Sam Booth repelled everything thrown at him.
Tom Pope was denied on two occasions by the heroic Booth and as the game entered six minutes of injury time, home substitutes Kyle Diskin and Jake Lovatt both saw shots held.
Then, in the seventh minute of time added on, Kidsgrove were awarded a free kick out on their left, the ball was swung over and Matt Rhead rose to glance a header past the under-fire Booth from a seemingly offside position.
However, Trafford’s appeals were in vain and seconds later the final whistle signalled a heart-breaking and unjust defeat for the boys from Shawe View.
Manager Marginson, normally so calm, composed and philosophical after a game, was incensed with the standard of officiating in the game, stating that the safety of his players had been compromised, and he now has the task of lifting them for Saturday’s fixture at the Away Day Care Stadium when Runcorn Linnets are the visitors. (Picture by Marcus Clayson on Twitter/X)