FORMER Ramsbottom United star Sam Heathcote returned to haunt his old team, scoring the only goal of the game as Trafford won 1-0 on Tuesday night.

The Rams made one change from Saturday’s 3-3 draw vs Clitheroe – Kyle Jacobs making his debut in place of Tom Brooks.

Trafford had the better of the opening with Ally Brown volleying wide in the first minute and Heathcote sending a free kick just past the post. Joseph Thompson was clean through on goal but he was ruled offside.

Rammy’s first chance came from Nathan Brown but his free kick was easily claimed by keeper Matt Cooper.

In a game devoid of clear-cut opportunities, Trafford’s best chance of the half saw keeper Sam Ashton and Jamie Rother combine to clear the danger.

The hard-working Brown sent another free kick wide of the goal and the half ended scoreless.

Things appeared to be improving with a great start to the second half for Ramsbottom, who created two chances in four minutes.

Jerome Wright’s shot was spilled by Cooper but Brown could not get to the ball as he followed it in.

Two minutes later Brown returned the favour as his cross found Wright but his header went wide of the mark.

Early in the second half, Trafford took the lead. Heathcote coolly controlled Jack Dorney’s deep corner, and found the space to hammer a low drive past Ashton from an acute angle on the right-hand side of the penalty area.

The only other real chance for the Rams came when Tom Kennedy’s free kick was blocked by the keeper, the ball rebounded off him and fell to Lee Gaskell but his follow-up was saved.

Trafford had a late opportunity to seal it in added time as a shot from the towering Mark Derbyshire was well saved by Ashton, but it proved academic.

Rammy had rescued a point in Saturday’s Evo-Stik West game, a 3-3 draw at home to Clitheroe.

Another ex-Ram, Max Hazeldine, headed Clitheroe into an early lead but the home team levelled when keeper Cameron Terry spilled a cross, Rother pouncing to make it 1-1.

Gaskell saw his penalty saved by Terry after Brown had been sent tumbling in the area and the visitors capitalised on their stroke of luck, Jay Jefferies scoring to put them 2-1 up at the break.

James Sloane made it 3-1 early in the second half but Jack Higgs scrambled in Rammy’s second goal and Tom Brooks’ goal nine minutes from time secured them a point.