A STUNNING hat-trick by the league’s leading goalscorer Aaron Burns highlighted Trafford’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Prescot Cables in their Evo-Stik First Division North clash on Tuesday night.

Tom Baker’s side made the perfect start when, after just four minutes, Filose Irakoze broke down the left and sent over a pin-point cross that Ally Brown headed home at the back post.

Prescot almost snatched an equaliser shortly afterwards when goalkeeper Luke Pilling miskicked but fortunately his defence was able to scramble the ball clear.

Burns then struck twice within the space of four minutes, blasting two glorious first-time efforts into the bottom corner after inch-perfect crosses by Lee Neville.

And the on-fire striker should have made it four in the 18th minute when he was sent clear by Irakoze but shot wide with just Tom Brocklehurst to beat.

Nathan Quirk was desperately unlucky not to reduce the arrears when he struck a great shot against the upright from 25 yards and to add to the visitors woe, Kingsley Williams struck a sweet shot in off the underside of the bar to make it 4-0.

In the 53rd minute Prescot were reduced to 10 men when Rob McIntosh appeared to elbow home keeper Pilling following a goalmouth scramble.

Burns completed his hat-trick, and with it his 18th goal of the season, when a quickly-taken free kick by Williams allowed him to gain control and clip the ball past the advancing Brocklehurst.

To their credit Prescot battled gamely to the end and when Trafford midfielder Andy Langford clumsily tripped James Edgar, Quirk coolly dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

The comprehensive home triumph came off the back of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Bamber Bridge in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

It was an impressive display by Baker’s men against a Brig side that had won 3-0 at Shawe View just a few weeks earlier.

Burns netted the first goal from the penalty spot in the 59th minute after Williams had been fouled.

Neville headed home a second for Trafford on 72 minutes to seal their progress.

Baker’s side will now host Mickleover Sports in the second qualfying round on Saturday week.

Back in league action before then, the Shawe View men will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to five games on Saturday when they entertain Scarborough Athletic, kick off 3pm.

They then play again on Monday night when they travel across the Pennines to play West Yorkshire side Brighouse Town.