TRAFFORD were brought crashing back down to earth on Tuesday night when they produced a dismal performance in a 2-0 defeat at lowly Prescot Cables.

Having received the NPL Supporters Performance of the Weekend award for their superb 3-0 victory at Droylsden on Saturday, Trafford started the Evo-Stik First Division North game confidently.

They made a bright start when Greg Daniels released Ash Woods who fired over from 15 yards after just four minutes.

Gradually the home side worked their way into the game, displaying tremendous energy, pace and purpose and they took the lead in the 19th minute when a weak back pass by Liam Brownhill led to Trafford keeper Terry Smith tripping Josh Dolling in the box, and Dale Wright stepped forward to coolly convert the penalty.

Jonah Gosling and Woods both went close to snatching an immediate equaliser but in the 28th minute Chris Almond almost made it two when he dispossessed Luke Horrocks and struck a low drive from 12 yards which brought a superb reflex save out of Smith.

Prescot were now well in control and Smith had to perform further heroics to thwart Dominic Marie’s piledriver before the home side tore Trafford’s defence to ribbons minutes before the interval only for Marie to fire wide from a great position.

Seven minutes into the second half the rampant home side doubled their lead when Dominic Reid sped past Andy Langford and cracked a great low drive from 20 yards which went in off the left-hand post.

Trafford were becoming increasingly frustrated as they were continuously out-fought, out-paced and out-thought by their youthful opponents, and Ally Brown was fortunate to escape with just a caution when he scythed down Harry Cain.

Cain responded by skipping past two Trafford defenders and shooting inches over before a rare attack by the visitors ended with Andy Keogh’s header being disallowed for offside.

Kingsley Williams then headed inches over following a cross by substitute Connor Martin but Trafford’s misery was compounded five minutes from time when Lee Neville was sent off in rather unfortunate circumstances, pulling back an opponent after having been obstructed, and receiving a second yellow card.

Despite the disappointing performance and result, Trafford remain firmly in the play-off positions and will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they entertain Mossley at Shawe View, kick off 7.45pm.