TRAFFORD battled through to the Third Round of the Integro Doodson League Cup with a superb victory against high=flying Northwich Victoria on Tuesday night.

Tom Baker’s side started brightly with skipper Kyle Jacobs spraying some delightful passes out to the flanks and in the 13th minute a thunderous drive by Evan Gumbs flew just over the crossbar.

Trafford striker Sam Noah then spurned a great chance of putting his team ahead when he broke clear but Vics keeper Dane Smith left his line to block.

The visitors then came more into the game and in the 23rd minute a weak back pass by Connor Roberts-Nurse was seized upon by Gary Burnett but Trafford centre back Andy Langford deflected the ball wide.

Burnett went close on two further occasions just before the interval with Russ Saunders saving bravely from point blank range and Luke Horrocks clearing a goal bound effort off the line.

The second half started quietly after an at times feisty first period but the breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute when a deep cross by Gumbs was brilliantly headed into the bottom corner by big Sam Noah.

Noah almost made it two when his shot from 10 yards was deflected behind by Cedric Krou but man of the match Gumbs showed his class once more in the 77th minute when he advanced from his right back position to curl a glorious drive from 25 yards inside the near post.

Trafford’s victory could have been even more emphatic as the closing minutes saw Jack Dorney crack a shot from 20 yards that Smith tipped over and Andy Langford mistime a header at the back post with the goal at his mercy.

Nevertheless manager Baker was delighted both with the result and the performance and he will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday when Ossett Albion visit Shawe View for a league fixture kicking off at 3pm.

Then on Monday night Trafford make the short journey to Hyde United for a Manchester Premier Cup Second Round Tie, kick off 7.45 p.m.