St Helens Town 0 Trafford 4

TRAFFORD'S resounding victory at Knowsley Road was highlighted by some stunning goals including a Glyn Barker double that took his tally for the season to 19.

However, the visitors didn't have it all their own way with Town in control in the opening stages and Robert Taylor had a good chance in the 12th minute but shot straight at Damien Rooney.

Rooney then produced a tremendous point blank save to deny Tom Sumner before Trafford mounted their first attack of any note in the 20th minute when Dion Depeiza crossed from the right but a home defender cleared with Glyn Barker ready to pounce.

Stuart Hilton shot straight at Rooney in the 28th minute and two minutes later fired inches over as Town continued to play in a manner that belied their lowly league position.

But it was Trafford who broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a quite stunning goal, Paul Ashton picking up a clearance 35 yards out and rifling a breathtaking shot into the top corner of the Town goal.

Just 12 seconds into the second half Trafford doubled their lead when a long, hopeful pass downfield allowed Barker to tap in simply from four yards.

In the 56th minute the mighty Glyn struck again when he gained control 15 yards out and blasted a tremendous drive into the roof of the net and just two minutes later Dion Depeiza got himself on the scoresheet with another breathtaking effort, cracking his drive past the bewildered home goalkeeper from 18 yards.

The stunned home manager made a triple substitution but this made little impact and Trafford coasted to a comfortable victory that lifted them into the top half of the North West Counties League Division One table.

However, with a number of games in hand on all the teams above them, they can still mount a serious challenge for a promotion spot.

On Saturday Trafford welcome local rivals Salford City to Shawe View for a league fixture kicking off at 3pm and then on Tuesday night, Trafford's old friends from Maine Road are the visitors for a 7.45pm kick off.

Trafford followed up their superb weekend win with a second away victory in four days on Tuesday night with another battling display at Abbey Hey.

The visitors were slow to start and in the opening minutes Abbey's Steve Worthington headed just wide from a left wing corner.

Trafford gradually settled and in the 12th minute Dion Depeiza crashed a header against the crossbar following a free kick and shortly afterwards Paul Ashton shot wide from 12 yards.

Leading goalscorer Glyn Barker shot just over in the 20th minute but made amends for that miss six minutes later when he gave Trafford the lead, controlling neatly, turning past a home defender and firing into the bottom corner for his 20th goal of the season.

Shortly afterwards, Jamie Almond shot across the face of the Trafford goal but despite an energetic and committed performance by the Gorton-based side, the visitors were defending well.

The same was true for much of the second half with Abbey dominating possession but failing to find a way through the well-drilled Trafford defence, although Lee Southwood came to his team's rescue with a goal-line clearance following a shot by Patrick Garmory midway through the half.

In the 83rd minute the points were sealed when Trafford substitute Simon Woodford played a long ball forward that Abbey centre half Graham Hicks had the misfortune to head past his own goalkeeper.

This was a superb victory for Trafford as they move up the North West Counties League table, for Abbey Hey on a cold and miserable November night is a very difficult place to get a positive result.