Trafford 3 Farsley 2

Farsley suffered another frustrating defeat as their ten men were caught by a late counterpunch.

With less than two minutes left, Trafford took the lead for the first time in a game that their visitors had edged.

The goal came just minutes after Farsley keeper Ben Higginson was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside his area.

Neil Parsley’s men did not dominate against their second-placed hosts but they were the better side. Had Adam Priestley or Simeon Bambrook taken chances in the goalless first half it could have been a different outcome.

Farsley took the lead just minutes after the interval when Priestley slotted in after Gareth Grant had broken through and played his forward partner in. The home side hit back from the spot, Paul Ashton stroking home after Rob Etherington had fouled Michael Oates.

Midway through the second period Farsley deservedly retook the lead, Matty James rifling high into the net after a corner had not been cleared. But Trafford bagged another equaliser, this time through Alistair Brown.

Higginson was dismissed with ten minutes remaining and Tom Morgan came on from the bench in a reshuffle. He was not troubled by the resulting free kick on the edge of the area but he was beaten late on by the Mancunians’ leading scorer Oates.