Poynton...1

ON A bright sunny Easter Monday afternoon at Manchester Road, Knutsford severely dented Poynton's lingering hopes of clinching the Mid-Cheshire League Championship.

In a game evenly balanced throughout, Poynton edging possession if not clear chances, Knutsford stormed back with an unlikely finish to come from behind and snatch all the points.

The London Road club had arrived with hopes of a first league title still burning but after some recent setbacks Knutsford were not about to roll over and die.

Although Daine Johnson was the busier goalkeeper he fielded everything thrown at him with some comfort and when Poynton finally broke through in the 67th minute there was little he could do.

Royle sped clear on the left away from Knutsford's Hall and whipped in a cross that was collected and despatched with some assurance by Wayne Renshaw as he shot low to Johnson's right to give the visitors the lead.

Knutsford rocked but did not collapse and when Ryan Barnhill was introduced as a 75th minute substitute, the Knutsford youngster provided all the creativity that had been missing.

It was from his clever square pass out to Nick Hall on 80 minutes that opened the visitors up and Hall finished with some assurance as picking his spot he side-footed the ball home from the 18 yard box to draw the Reds level.

Then in the final minute of normal time Barnhill produced a stunning goal deserving of winning any game.

He killed instantly Stevens pinpoint pass and after running a Poynton defender as if he was not there, his shimmy deceived goalkeeper Chamberlain who went to ground and even though the angle looked tight he swept the ball into the bottom far corner of goal for a dramatic winner.

On Saturday old rivals and champions-elect Barnton, looking for a fourth successive title, are in town.

Kick off at Manchester Road 3pm.

TEAM: Johnson, Hall, I Habershon, Alan Brown, Leigh, Stevens, Burnett (Barnhill 70 minutes) Fry (Platt 63 minutes) Masheder, Hitchen, J Habershon. Substitute not used Dow.