A STUNNING 15-minute hat-trick by Liam Ellis highlighted Trafford’s 4-0 victory against Maine Road as they eased through to the second round of the Manchester Premier Cup on Tuesday night.

Despite making nine changes to the team that had performed so admirably at Clitheroe to win 2-1 in Evo-Stik West on Saturday, the hosts were on top throughout and forged ahead in the ninth minute when Ellis burst through down the left and was hacked to the ground by Will Aldred. The big striker picked himself up and coolly placed the resulting penalty into the bottom corner past Alex Fowell.

In the 17th minute Ellis doubled Trafford’s lead when he flighted an exquisite chip from the right over Fowell and into the goal via the underside of the bar, and he completed his hat-trick just seven minutes later when Declan Rydings released him in the inside right channel and he deftly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

A long-range drive by Christy O’Brien landed on the roof of the net in a rare Maine Road attack and on the stroke of half time Sam Heathcote should have made it four when he knocked the ball over from just six yards following a left-wing corner.

The procession continued throughout the second half with Darius Palma making numerous forays down the left flank and substitute Mark Derbyshire was twice denied from point-blank range by the heroic Fowell.

However, in the 77th minute Jack Dorney struck a magnificent curling drive into the top corner from 25 yards for Trafford’s fourth and the hosts were denied a penalty shortly afterwards when Fowell clumsily upended Ellis but the referee awarded a corner.

Derbyshire squandered another gilt-edged chance when he cut in brilliantly from the right but shot weakly at the goalkeeper and the game came to a close with Trafford delighted with a fifth victory in succession.

Three days earlier, the Shawe View men moved up to fifth place in the league following their superb victory at Clitheroe.

The visitors were in the ascendancy from the start and went close several times in the first half.

But three minutes into stoppage time disaster struck for the visitors when Dorney was caught in possession and the ball fell kindly to James Boyd who netted from 10 yards to give Clitheroe the lead against the run of play.

Trafford came out for the second half with all guns blazing and were back on level terms in the 52nd minute when a great cross by Jimmy Moore from the right was met by a diving header by Aaron Burns that flew past Terry.

Tom Baker’s side poured forward in search of the winner and Laurence Taylor should have done better when he failed to connect properly with a cut-back from Matty Bryan.

The visitors won corner after corner but the Clitheroe defence, superbly marshalled by captain Jay Jeffries, withstood the barrage and appeared to be heading for a point.

However, in the 86th minute Trafford substitute Ross Davidson collected the ball in midfield, strode forward and unleashed a stunning drive from 25 yards that rocketed into the top corner to seal a magnificent victory.

On Saturday, they will be hoping to extend their winning sequence to six games when they entertain Ramsbottom United in the second round of the FA Trophy and then on Tuesday night they host Leek Town in an Evo-Stik West fixture (7.45pm).