TRAFFORD maintained their strong away record of late as they comprehensively defeated Witton Albion 4-0 at Wincham Park on Saturday, recording their fourth consecutive success on the road in the process.

It was the hosts who started the stronger and indeed who looked the more likely to score throughout the first half hour.

It took until just after the half-hour for Trafford to register their first effort on goal, and they punished Albion for their misses immediately. Shelton Payne received the ball on the edge of the box, danced past two defenders with ease before executing a deft clip over Matt Cooper and into the back of the net.

Witton attempted to respond with Alex Titchiner and Danny Andrews both spurning good chances, the latter's being well saved by Read low down at his near post, but they were again to be punished by Trafford's lone front man, as top-scorer Payne doubled his and his team's tally five minutes later.

A horror mistake from ex-Trafford full-back Ally Brown sold Cooper short and Payne took full advantage, nipping in between the two men, rounding the stranded goalkeeper and slotting into the unguarded net to give his side a solid two goal advantage heading into the break.

Trafford quashed any lingering hopes of a comeback with a third strike.

Once again, Payne was instrumental. After once again springing Witton's high line, he found himself once again up against Cooper. Cooper was again successful in denying Payne his third, but the rebound fell to Luke Heron who showed good technique in firing home via the underside of the crossbar from 15 yards.

Mark Derbyshire, who has scored for fun for Trafford's Sunday League side before being promoted into the senior team, was introduced in place of Payne and he completed the scoring, poking home fellow substitute Chris Palmer's cross to add the gloss on an emphatic win.

A small cloud was cast over the triumph late on when Rory Fallon received his marching orders for a needless second yellow card, for handball, which rules him out of the Manchester Premier Cup Final.