Trafford produced a spirited display at high flying Lower Breck on Wednesday night but fell to a 2-0 defeat that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the NPL West Division table.

Karl Marginson’s team acquitted themselves admirably on a difficult artificial playing surface in spartan surroundings but were clearly up against it against a team well accustomed to the conditions.

In the 6th minute Breck’s lightning fast winger Alex Cherera cut in from the right and fired over and shortly afterwards he sped past two Trafford defenders and struck a fierce low drive that Sam Booth pushed behind.

In the 25th minute Taylor Dyson, returning to the Trafford side after a short spell with Hyde United, curled a 25 yard free kick just wide, but the visitors were finding it difficult to break down the home defence, despite some sterling work by lone striker Matt Davies.

In the 31st minute Harry McGee spurned a great chance for Breck when he skied his shot well over following another mesmerising run by Cherera and the heroic Trafford defence was finally breached five minutes before the interval when Sam Burns controlled neatly 15 yards out and fired into the bottom corner.

The visitor’s plight was further hampered by an injury to Kieron Molloy just before half-time with Kingston Fligg replacing the club’s leading goal-scorer.

Josh Wood replaced a hobbling Harry Winstanley and manager Marginson made two further tactical substitutions with the introduction of Cian Donohue and Henry Brown.

Sam Booth produced another fine save to thwart Cherera but the changes to the Trafford line-up injected more pace into their game and in the 71st minute a great run by Josh Woods ended with Henry Brown firing in a low cross that Breck defender Frazer Cookson almost turned past his own keeper.

Cherera continued to torment the Trafford defence with his great pace and skill but thankfully his finishing was rather wasteful, and in another quick break by the visitors in the 78th minute Cian Donohue was desperately unlucky to see his drive from 20 yards rebound back into play off the foot of the post.

Two minutes later Breck struck again when the ball was played in from the left and Tom Croughan coolly and clinically poked it beyond Booth and into the bottom corner.

This defeat leaves Trafford four points adrift at the foot of the NPL West Division table and makes Saturday’s home game against Nantwich Town absolutely vital as they battle for survival.