TRAFFORD made it three wins in a week over the festive period with an excellent 1-0 victory in atrocious conditions at Atherton Collieries on New Year's Day.

The hosts were well on top in the opening stages with Bradley Cooke breaking clear in the third minute, only to be denied by a brilliant save by Grant Shenton.

Ben Hardcastle then struck a great drive from 25 yards just past the upright and in the eighth minute Trafford striker Aaron Burns saw his effort from close range saved by Greg Hartley.

In the 22nd minute Shenton demonstrated his brilliance once again with a magnificent save to tip Luke Giverin’s wickedly curving free kick onto the bar and over, and the action continued down the other end when Michael Monaghan pulled the ball back from the goal-line and Burns struck a volley into the ground that bounced up onto the bar.

Shenton produced another fine save to push Cooke’s low drive past the post and the first half ended with Colls left winger Matthew Fearnley flighting a shot just wide and blasting a drive that was deflected over the bar.

The second half saw Trafford with the slope and increasing wind in their favour and as the rain fell, Colls were finding it difficult to clear the ball with any length and direction.

And in the 55th minute Trafford broke the deadlock when Louis Corrigan swung a free kick in from the left, Colls failed to clear and Keil O’Brien pounced to steer the ball into the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Giverin then went close on two occasions as the hosts mounted a spirited fightback but Monaghan should have sealed the points in the 77th minute when he broke clear only to be denied by a brave block by Hartley.

Five minutes later Monaghan neatly back-heeled the ball into the path of substitute Andy Keogh whose first-time effort rebounded back into play off the foot of the post.

The final minutes saw Trafford holding onto their lead with another excellent defensive display with the imperious Shenton remaining relatively untroubled in his goal.

The win followed home victories against Radcliffe (3-0) and Mossley (1-0) over the Christmas programme.

Trafford will be hoping to build on their fine form when they host Ossett Albion on Saturday at the First Point Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3pm.