By Brendan Doyle
Despite Bootle’s sharp start in the first 15 minutes with chances from Joe Woolley and Courtney Duffus, Trafford took the lead after Rio Clegg was played through on goal and went round Tony Thompson to bury his chance. Bootle attempted to come back into the game as Joe Woolley took a shot with his weaker left foot but his effort went straight over the bar.
Despite Bootle’s attempts for an equaliser in the first half, Trafford seemed to get a foot on the game as the minutes went on. Although Bootle very nearly snatched an equaliser before the close of the half as Courtney Duffus met a Sam Hughes cross with a header attempt towards goal but the chance only went over. Duffus had yet another header on goal from closer range but Trafford keeper Sam Booth made a fantastic save to ensure Trafford’s lead before the half time whistle.
Ten minutes into the second half Trafford looked very likely to double their lead as Brad Byrne played a low ball into the Bootle box trying to find Cain Donohue but the ball roll away from the forward. The visitors paid for their misfortune just a minute later as Joe Woolley found the net putting Bootle level in the game.
Bootle took the lead only eight minutes after their equaliser as Ben Hodkinson squared the ball into the Trafford box and defender Jerome Wright got a connection on the ball attempting to defend the pass but managed to put the ball into his own net putting The Bucks 2-1 ahead. In the 70th minute Andy Scarisbrick hit the bar very closely putting Bootle 3-1 up.
Only a minute later Trafford equalised as Hilal Khan curled his effort into the far corner, fantastic finish. There was chances for either side in the later stages of the game but the score would finish even at 2-2.