Trafford’s unbeaten league run came to an abrupt end when they crashed to a 5-1 defeat against a powerful and impressive Marske side in their Pitching In Northern Premier League North West Division clash at Mount Pleasant.

Manager Danny Caldecott was forced to reshuffle his side with Jake Kenny, Ollie Ford and Max Hazeldine all missing due to injuries sustained in the win over Kendal Town, and Matty Barlow absent due to suspension.

However, the changes could not be used as an excuse for the poor, slack defending that allowed the hosts to storm into a three-goal lead inside the first 17 minutes.

The game was just five minutes old when a right-wing corner was clipped into the near post where Adam Wheatley arrived to plant a firm header past Matty Cooper.

Ten minutes later a lovely flighted cross from the right was headed home by Matt Tymon and when Trafford failed to clear a long throw from the left, Wheatley pounced again to make it 3-0.

Matty Morgan caught the eye with several piercing runs as Trafford rallied in the latter stages of the first half but the visitors' weakness at set-pieces was exposed once more in the 56th minute when Tymon headed home from close range following a left-wing corner.

Further weak and ineffectual defending in the 67th minute allowed Curtis Round to steer the ball past Cooper from 10 yards but Trafford winger Morgan once again revealed his class when he cut in from the right and drove a fine shot that took a slight deflection and flew past Ryan Catterick.

There was little goalmouth action in the final 20 minutes with neither goalkeeper tested and so Trafford fell to their first league defeat of the season following a win and three draws.

Manager Caldecott was obviously disappointed both with the result and performance but was magnanimous in defeat and paid tribute to a Marske team that he believes will be in contention for the league championship come the end of the season.

Trafford will look to bounce back in the FA Trophy second qualifying round at Pickering Town on Saturday.