Pilkington1

KNUTSFORD FC enjoyed a degree of retribution in Saturday's Mid-Cheshire League Cup first round tie at Manchester Road.

The Reds defeated Pilkington, who became the only team to score - and beat - Knutsford in the league a few weeks back.

Stewart Dow's men looked determined to redress the balance and at times during the opening period were quite superb.

The home side looked sharper from the offset and it was surprising that it took half an hour for them to take a well-deserved lead.

Rix crossed from the right and Stevens flicked the ball on to Barnhill at the far post.

The youngster, unmarked, kept his cool and finished with calmness as he slipped the ball below the on-rushing Pilkington goalkeeper Owen.

That was just the spur Knutsford needed as in the next attack Mike Burnett almost doubled the score when he cracked a dipping volley just over the bar.

Then on 44 minutes Burnett scored and what a quality finish it was.

Owen played the ball out to his defender Burrows, who allowed the ball to slip from his control into the path of Burnett.

The Knutsford midfielder, some 25 yards out, demonstrated great awareness as he returned the ball with a delicate lob over Owen's head and into the unprotected goal.

Two-nil at half-time was almost three when Paul Fry was denied in the best move of the match, as Knutsford finished the first-half in top gear with their opponents on the rack.

Rix and Wilkins worked a quick throw and from Rix's cross Fry shaped to crack a fierce volley that might have been a contender for goal of the season.

But Owen intervened with a brilliant save equal of the shot, which prompted full appreciation by the small crowd.

It was a pity, from Knutsford's point of view, that the half had to end as the home side were looking rampant.

The break undoubtedly favoured their opponents as the St Helens side, for the first time in the game, exposed Knutsford's back line and Hull hit the foot of the post as Mottershead's goal came under siege.

Mike Burnett maintained his reputation as something of a dead ball expert when he curled a free-kick left footed that went tantalisingly wide of the visitor's upright.

But it was a rare moment of attacking significance for the Reds as Pilkington committed more and more to attack themselves as they strove to get in the game.

With 20 minutes left the visitors reduced the arrears when Jeff Hickey took full advantage of some dismal home defending and, having picked the ball up 20 yards out and without a defender nearby, was able to lift his shot above the marooned Mottershead to set up an interesting finish.

Knutsford had done all their hard work in the first half and deservedly held on for victory.

TEAM: Mottershead, Francis, Bell, Leigh, Whitehurst, Rix, Burnett, Wilkins, Barnhill, Stevens, Fry. Substitutes: Not used Anderson, Dow.

Next Saturday, Knutsford return to league action when they have a home game, sponsored by Sparks, with Garswood United, kick off 3pm.