Unibond League: Trafford 2, Park Avenue 0.

Two strikes in the second half led to Park Avenue losing their unbeaten record at the Manchester club, and also put paid to their hopes of going to the head of Division One.

Avenue manager Trevor Storton said: "It is still very tight at the top, but we should have taken this chance to go clear. We should have been three goals up by half-time, but, having said that, we have got to finish teams off when we are creating so many chances.

"Mark Hancock came off just before half-time with a bad foot injury, which depleted us a little bit. Just before that Wayne Benn took a knock on his ankle. He stayed on, but wasn't at his best."

The visitors coped well with a spirited start by the home side and looked the most likely to break the deadlock in the first half.

Avenue midfielder Nicky Hey had the first two attempts. A long-range shot was charged down, but the second beat home keeper Jim O'Donnell, although it drifted wide of the woodwork.

Damien Lee also got in a shot that passed O'Donnell, but the keeper's luck held as it spun out for a goal kick off the post.

Ian Briggs, starting his first game of the season, put a six-yard header over a gaping target when a cross from Lee cut out O'Donnell in the 26th minute.

Avenue's first half of dominance ended with yet another glorious opening. Lee raced through from deep inside his own half before lashing in a shot that was miraculously turned round the post by the home keeper.

Just four minutes into the second period Trafford profited from a crucial break when they ended the deadlock with a penalty. A handball by Paul Marquis led to the led to the spot-kick, and Garry Vaughan scored, even though Avenue keeper Gavin Kelly made contact with the ball.

Avenue went close on several occasions, but Trafford effectively killed the contest three minutes after the hour. A long, flowing move ended with Jamie Shepley in possession close in, and he converted the Manchester club's second.

It proved to be the first league goal past Kelly in open play since Graham Dodd's 20-yard deflected volley gave Congleton Town a 2-1 win on August 14 - the opening day of the UniBond season.

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