TRAFFORD squandered a two-goal lead and had to settle for a point from a pulsating 2-2 draw at Glossop in Evo-Stik First Division North on Tuesday night.

Aaron Burns twice went close to giving the visitors the lead in the opening stages but made amends in the 22nd minute when Kingsley Williams struck the foot of the post from 20 yards and Burns collected the rebound to ram the ball home from 15 yards.

And on the half-hour mark Trafford doubled their lead with a magnificent goal, Lee Neville crossing from the left and Burns cracking a wonderful volley past the helpless Ben Chapman from just inside the penalty area.

However, despite dominating play with some scintillating football Trafford threw the hosts a lifeline when just two minutes later they failed to clear a right-wing cross and Jamie Rainford volleyed home from close range.

Glossop were on top for long spells in the second half as they constantly hassled and pressurised the ball-playing Trafford side and only a last-ditch clearance by debutant Liam Brownhill prevented the equaliser.

Mike Norton then headed wide from six yards as the Trafford goal came under siege but the equaliser duly arrived in the 71st minute when a low cross by Max Leonard was coolly placed into the bottom corner by substitute Karl Jones.

Trafford substitute Connor Martin then fired over at the near post and Nicky Platt’s superb run down the right ended with a low cross that just failed to find a team-mate.

The fleet-footed Jones then cut in from the left and poked the ball wide of the far post before Trafford keeper Russ Saunders produced a magnificent save at point-blank range to thwart Rainford and earn the visitors a point.

Despite surrendering the two-goal advantage Trafford were happy to leave with a point and go into Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Prescot Cables brimming with confidence.