Padgate St Oswalds 0 Knutsford 4

KNUTSFORD FC showed no sympathy for struggling Padgate on Saturday.

The Reds inflicted a 4-0 defeat on the team who have dropped to second bottom in the league.

The win put them level on points and goal difference with archrivals Barnton who are second to Middlewich Athletic.

Barnton may have a game in hand, and Middlewich have played three more (nine points ahead), but two successive away victories have brought the Reds back into the title race.

They were always the better side in this encounter but it was not until the second-half that they matched the work-rate and commitment of their opponents that Knutsford eventually put the game safe.

Wicked

Ryan Barnhill profited with a hat trick, although his first goal on 15 minutes came courtesy of a wicked deflection from a free kick that wrong-footed home goalkeeper Haile.

Ryan Taylor continued his impressive form since being promoted from the A team and enjoyed his best game for some time.

It was one of several chances Fry had but it was not to be his day.

Matthew Lamming scored the important second goal to put distance between the two teams.

Dow headed on from Faulkner's neat flick and the Knutsford centre-back steered a left foot volley home.

The Saints were fighting vigorously but Barnhill rounded Haile before sliding home Knutsford's third 10 minutes from time.

On 88 minutes Fry whipped in a superb cross, Dow rolled the ball across goal for Barnhill to tap home his third and Knutsford's fourth to complete an excellent day for the Reds.

On Saturday Knutsford are in the Mid-Cheshire League match of the day when they travel to meet league leaders Middlewich Athletic. It is a game that could give Knutsford a real lift in the title chase should they be successful.

Kick off at Seddon Street is 3pm.

TEAM: Mottershead, Lamming, Bell, Francis, Rix (Wright 85 minutes), Barnhill, Taylor (Wilkins 72), Moss, Faulkner, Dow, Fry. Substitute not used Woan.