TRAFFORD produced a superb display on Tuesday night to defeat Marine 2-1 in their Evo Stik League Premier Division clash on Merseyside.

Despite having won just one game from the previous seven, the visitors started confidently and took the lead after just three minutes when Tom Schofield was upended in the penalty area and dusted himself down to coolly place the resultant spot kick past Callum Williams.

At the other end Tony Rendell headed just wide before Trafford doubled their lead in the 10th minute when Brett Mbalanda started and finished a sweeping move with a close range header past Williams.

The remainder of the first half was dominated by both defences with the only chance of any note falling to Marine centre forward Will Jones who headed a deep free kick just over the crossbar.

Trafford made the worst possible start to the second half when, in the 50th minute, Karl Noon headed past Kieran O’Hara from six yards after a cross from the left by Joe Fowler.

Marine were in the ascendancy and Jones rifled a drive inches wide from 20 yards as they sought the equaliser.

However, Trafford showed great composure to stem the tide and after Brett Mbalanda fired over, Andy Smart struck a magnificent volley from 30 yards that flew inches off target.

In the 74th minute a great run by Paul Ashton down the left ended with Martyn Andrews powering in a shot that Williams pushed behind for a corner and then Mbalanda skipped past two defenders and crossed for Chris Palmer to blast his shot against the upright.

Young Kieran O’Hara was untroubled in the Trafford goal for the remaining minutes and so the visitors returned to Manchester with a confidence boosting three points and denied Marine a win that would have taken them into a play-off position.

Trafford will be hoping to build on this victory on Saturday when they entertain Blyth Spartans at Shawe View, kick off 3pm Report by Dave Law