WITTON’S adjustment to life after Brian Pritchard is proving to be more painful than predicted.

A fourth successive defeat under Anthony Sheehan, following three positive results as caretaker that landed him the job, leaves them well off the Premier Division pace.

This game was surrendered during an eccentric eight-minute period in the first half that packed in an injury, a penalty, a sending off and two goals in Albion’s net.

Dazed, and a man down, they could not muster a response.

Trafford, perennial winners on this pitch, could barely believe their luck after managing a single victory in their previous nine league games this season.

Witton, for their part, will be sick of the sight of them.

The men from Shawe View have won on five of their past six visits to Wincham Park, scoring 19 times.

The visitors were ruthless in front of goal again, but it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the harm inflicted by the hosts on themselves.

At times, their defending defied belief.

Andrew Smart’s sixth-minute free kick, awarded following a soft foul by Ben Harrison, arced into the corner from the right without being touched by anybody.

Easy to forget afterwards that Witton, including three new recruits making their home debut, were the better team during the early exchanges.

Josh Hancock fizzed a drive from distance narrowly wide, a trick repeated by Liam Blake and Michael Lea when they advanced into shooting positions.

Danny Andrews, after swapping passes with Hancock, saw another attempt drift past an upright.

They lost momentum when Tom Eckersley limped off, a catalyst for that crazy spell.

Shelton Payne doubled the visitors’ lead when, after peeling to the edge of the box for a rehearsed corner routine, his low shot sneaked through a crowd of players and past custodian Sam Ramsbottom.

Worse was to follow.

When Michael Oates was sent sprawling inside the penalty area after being nudged by Anthony Gardner, the defender was sent off.

Payne despatched the resulting spot kick.

With 29 minutes on the clock, Albion trailed 3-0 and were a man down.

Helped in part by Trafford’s retreat, they still created chances.

Hancock’s effort was diverted unconvincingly by goalkeeper Andy Robertson, while Michael Powell kicked fresh air when a ball dropped invitingly at his feet in the six-yard box.

Albion swapped formation more than once after the interval, though without finding a formula that applied pressure to their opponents.

Blake blundered when Scott Bakkor’s cross tempted him, blazing wildly over.

In contrast Trafford striker Oates kept cool in front of goal, scoring twice in the final stages.

He fired in a first after Witton, unforgivably, had given the ball away taking a short corner.

A second, this time from close range, followed when substitute Chris Palmer supplied an assist in stoppage time.

Albion have a week now to come up with a solution to their problems before a trip to back-markers Belper.

On this evidence, they will need to make use of every minute.

Witton (4-5-1) Ramsbottom (GK), Gardner, Eckersley (Moyo 21), Harrison, Lea, Danny Andrews, Davidson, Powell (Dawson 61), Blake (Titchiner 78), Hancock, Bakkor Subs not used Corbett, Koral Booked Powell, Andrews (both fouls) Sent off Gardner (foul)

Trafford (4-3-3) Robertson (GK), Welsh, Mason, Bayunu, Smart, Martyn Andrews, Schofield (Ahern 71), Fallon (Shaw 81), Payne, Oates, Hackney (Palmer 59) Subs not used Chalmers, Heron Goals Smart 6, Payne 26, 29 (penalty), Oates 81, 90 Booked Oates (kicking ball away), Smart (ungentlemanly conduct)

Referee Jason Tyas

Attendance 374