TRAFFORD secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Integro League Cup with a thrilling 8-7 penalty shootout victory at Droylsden on Tuesday night – and exacted revenge for a league defeat to the same opposition just four days earlier.

A superb game played between two attack-minded sides began with the hosts on the front foot and Trafford’s debutant goalkeeper Daniel Whiting making a fine early save to thwart Mike Brewster.

The Bloods took the lead in the 35th minute when Shaquille Antoine Clarke skipped past Jack Dorney on the right and crossed for Liam Caddick to glance the ball past Whiting.

Within four minutes of the restart Tom Baker’s side levelled when Matty Bryan’s cross from the left completely deceived Chris Thompson and went in via the back post.

However, Droylsden pushed forward once more to regain their lead, Luke Daly firing against the foot of the post and Caddick following up to volley home from six yards.

Caddick had a glorious chance to seal the tie and complete his hat-trick in the 65th minute when he broke clear down the middle but Whiting left his line to produce a magnificent save at point blank range.

And the introduction of substitute Aaron Burns appeared to breathe fire into the visitors as they dominated the closing stages, Matty Bryan seeing a goal wiped out controversially for offside before Burns equalised in the 77th minute when he coolly slotted home past the advancing Thompson.

Both teams attacked at every opportunity in the final minutes nut neither could manufacture a clear opening and so the tie went straight to a penalty shootout.

Trafford feared the worst when the normally deadly Burns fired the first penalty against the foot of the post but a Phil Marsh miss levelled matters.

Both teams scored their next six penalties with great precision as the shootout went to sudden-death, but Whiting proved to be the Trafford hero when he saved Dylan Smith’s effort to send his team through.

On Saturday, Trafford suffered their first Evo-Stik West defeat since September 1 when they were beaten 4-3 by the Bloods on home soil

Baker’s side made the perfect start when, after just four minutes, Harry Winter’s lofted pass was only half cleared and Danny Wilkins volleyed neatly into the bottom corner.

In the ninth minute Droylsden levelled when Sefton Gonzales headed in a right-wing corner from six yards.

Droylsden forged ahead in the 16th minute when a slick move down the right ended with Caddick volleying past Dave Carnell from close range.

The visitors dominated the opening minutes of the second half with danger man Gonzales making it 3-1 in the 53rd minute with a fine back-post header.

Trafford battled gamely to get back into the game and in the 67th minute Lewis Nightingale reduced the arrears when he struck a superb free kick from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

Then, in the 83rd minute, Keil O’Brien upended Shaquille Antoine-Clarke and Mike Brewster crashed an unstoppable penalty into the top corner.

Once again Trafford showed great spirit and four minutes later Chris Palmer bundled the ball home from close range after Aaron Burns broke free down the left.

But time ran out for the hosts and their magnificent 12-game unbeaten run came to an end.