Kings Lynn Town 0 – 1 Trafford

Trafford Scorer:

Shelton Payne 40’

TRAFFORD'S long trip to Norfolk saw a vastly improving team take the spoils, but they should have returned to the North with more than a solitary goal. In comparison to the corresponding fixture, last season, Garry Vaughan’s men were up for the challenge from the off and Joe Shaw shot wide after some early Trafford play.

The 15th minute saw some neat interplay between Shelton Payne and the impressive left back Lewis Chalmers but Michael Oates could not convert Rees Welsh’s teasing cross.

Kings Lynn were showing some endeavour and Tom Read had to be alert in the 22nd minute with a smart save. Fortunately the follow up was drilled wide.

Trafford responded immediately with a neatly struck Joe Shaw free kick that hit the corner of the bar and post with the Lynn ‘keeper Alex Street rooted to the spot.

Trafford were awarded another free kick in a dangerous area outside the box and this time Shelton Payne stepped forward to curl the ball through a gap in the wall into the bottom right hand corner.

Payne was starting to stretch his legs and after more good work down the left, he cut in but this time his shot was well saved.

Trafford started the second half where they left off with the forward line causing the home defence all sorts of problems. A number of dangerous free kicks were shared between Payne and Shaw, but no further goals were forthcoming.

In the 64th minute, Oates floated a great ball into the middle but the Lynn ‘keeper did well to get his fingers to it before the onrushing Martyn Andrews could get his head on it. Payne also had a chance on 69 minutes after being released down the right but he shot wide when Tom Schofield was unmarked in the middle.

The Kings Lynn defence were tiring and were there for the taking, but Trafford failed to show the killer instinct and add to their tally. They were almost left to rue their wastefulness as the home team hit the post in the dying minutes.