KNUTSFORD...1

Cammell Laird...2

A CRACKING quarter-final cup tie ended with a disappointing goal at Manchester Road on Saturday.

The ball bobbled around the penalty area and deflected off legs into the path of Larkin who prodded over the line in the 87th minute.

Knutsford held their heads in their hands as the Wirral side celebrated after the cruelest of conclusions.

Knutsford had immediately erased from memory last week's dismal display as they tore into the competition favourites with Paul Edwards and Paul Hartley leading them a merry dance.

Hartley's deftness and pace took him clear on 23 minutes and though he lifted his shot above the advancing goalkeeper it was too high and missed the goal as well.

The visitors fought back and on 25 minutes defender Kenny Burgess scored.

For a spell Knutsford were rattled but it became an absorbing contest and the Reds drew level after 30 minutes.

Hartley picked out his strike partner Edwards with a pin-point cross who then headed superbly into the bottom corner to the elation of the large Manchester Road crowd.

Edwards continued to cause trouble, but after a lunging tackle he lost composure and fired wide.

Player manager Stewart Dow entered proceedings for the last quarter.

However, it was Larkin for the visitors who denied Knutsford a scalp they richly deserved.

On Saturday Knutsford return to league action against Bollington Athletic at Manchester Road.

The game kicks off at 3pm.

TEAM: Johnson, Andy Brown, Gibbons, Leigh, Bell (Fry 90 minutes) Stevens, Masheder (Habershon 16 minutes), Burnett (Dow 75 minutes) Barnhill, Edwards, Hartley.