TRAFFORD’S BetVictor League North West Division season came to life on Tuesday with a superb 7-2 win at Kendal Town.

On a challenging pitch in heavy rain, Tom Baker’s team produced a scintillating display of fast, attacking football with some gritty performances in the key midfield areas.

Trafford survived an early scare when Kendal’s Emil Jaaskelainen flicked a first-minute chance past Matt Cooper, but the ball hit the post and rolled to safety.

The Shawe View men immediately gathered their composure and just 90 seconds later clever wing play by Darius Palmer lead to skipper Sam Egerton stabbing home a cross fumbled by Kendal keeper O’Rourke.

On the other flank, new signing Toyleb Mustapha was causing all sorts of problems with his energy and trickery, and it was he who rose at the far post to head home a fine cross from Declan Rydings after 16 minutes to double Trafford’s lead.

Trafford controlled the half and 17-year-old striker, Lewis Salmon made it 3-0 when he got to the ball first in a goalmouth melee following a corner.

Just before half time he struck again, heading home another fine delivery from Palma for Trafford’s fourth.

Moments later it could have been five when a wonderful weaving run into the box by Rydings saw his shot headed off the line.

After the interval the home side had renewed vigour, and Jaaskelainen made up for his earlier miss by heading home a Joseph Dickson cross on 49 minutes. Salmon restored the advantage when he finished an excellent Rydings and Palma move to complete his hat-trick.

Around the hour mark, Trafford made a couple of changes and on came attackers Sam Grimshaw and Jordan Johnson.

Grimshaw showed his skill and pace to feed Johnson who, with his first touch of the game, lofted the ball over the oncoming keeper to make it 6-1.

There followed a swift reply from the home team for 6-2 before Trafford, spurred on by their travelling supporters singing in the Lake District rain, made it seven when Palma and Grimshaw combined to create another chance for Johnson, which the experienced striker finished with precision.

The thumping victory came just four days after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Clitheroe.

Following a closely-fought opening, the game burst into life in the 22nd minute when Trafford full-back Sam Baird headed against the Clitheroe bar and the visitors immediately broke down the other end where a Terry Cummings shot was parried by Cooper.

The game then became rather scrappy but disaster struck for the hosts in the 43rd minute when Keil O’Brien was harshly adjudged to have fouled Hyuga Tanner and Connor Gaul stepped forward to coolly place the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

Just seconds into the second half Watkinson almost made it two when he unleashed a thunderous drive against the bar from 25 yards.

Trafford pushed forward in search of the equaliser but in the 82nd minute they were dealt a sucker punch when Clitheroe broke away down the right, Watkinson neatly feeding Jordan Darr who blasted the ball past the advancing Cooper.

Trafford are at home on Saturday against Bamber Bridge in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round, kick off 3pm.