TRAFFORD edged through to the third round of the Integro League Cup with a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory at Colne on Tuesday night.

Manager Tom Baker made eight changes to the team that drew 1-1 at Kendal on Saturday but his young and inexperienced side settled immediately to dominate proceedings with Robert Bourne particularly impressive in central midfield.

Debutant Greg Daniels headed over from 10 yards following a Danny Caldecott cross from the left but in the 25th minute Trafford skipper Josh Granite carelessly gave the ball away in his own penalty area and was relieved to see Saul Lomax-Newton produce a fine reflex save to deny James Lynch.

In the 36th minute the game erupted when another Trafford debutant, Ben McNamara, was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Simon Nangle but, despite this, the visitors were on top as half time approached with Ashley Woods seeing his low drive blocked by goalkeeper Daniel Thorpe.

In the 48th minute Trafford thought they had broken the deadlock when a Liam Brownhill corner was glanced at goal by Granite and in the melee that ensued the visitors were adamant the ball had crossed the line.

Baker made a triple substitution but his side were forced onto the defensive with Oliver Wood glancing a header inches wide and Connor Gaul heading over from just four yards.

In the 64th minute the 10 men of Trafford stunned the home supporters when they took the lead, Colne half-clearing a cross from the left and Kyle Harrop cracking a superb low drive from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

Woods then curled a drive just wide of the upright before Colne took control and began to pepper the visitors' goal.

Wood glanced another header just wide but made amends with just four minutes remaining when his shot from 15 yards took a wicked deflection off Andy Langford and flew past Lomax-Newton to make it 1-1.

The tired Trafford side managed to hold out, taking the tie to a shootout after 90 minutes.

Lomax-Newton produced brilliant saves to give Trafford the advantage but after five penalties each, the score stood at 3-3 and went to sudden death.

The old warrior Caldecott coolly clipped his spot-kick into the bottom corner and when Colne’s Lynch missed the target, victory belonged to the boys from Shawe View.

On Saturday, third placed Trafford return to Evo-Stik First Division North action when they entertain Droylsden at home, hoping to close the gap on leaders Lancaster City.