Athletico...0

FOOTBALL returned to Manchester Road for the first time in nine long weeks following the extreme weather conditions during the past couple of months which has seen the postponement of football on a monotonous basis.

It was the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup third round and Knutsford entertained Altrincham Amateur League side Athletico.

The home side were favourites to win but rarely clicked into anything like top form and indeed their opponents made up for anything they lacked in skill or ability to their supposed superiors with a work rate that kept the outcome in the balance till late in the game.

The Reds' boss Stewart Dow named himself amongst the substitutes alongside the leading scorer Paul Hartley who was returning from a long standing injury.

It was a stop-start affair with referee Mr Roxborough the busiest man on the field as it was hardly a physical game but nonetheless punctuated with a constant stream of petty fouls that disjointed proceedings and was probably partly the reason Knutsford could not get their passing game going.

The breakthrough came on 58 minutes when the industrious Paul Fry was bundled over in the visitors' penalty area which culminated in a penalty for the home side.

Skipper Chris Leigh drove the spot kick home without fuss to put Knutsford into the lead.

The home side created one or two half chances with Hitchen curling a shot in from wide on the left which struck the crossbar.

However, with the clock running down and it becoming apparent that the Manchester Road side were not to welcome football back to their home with much of a flourish it was the visitors who pressed and caused Daine Johnson one or two uncomfortable moments in the Reds' goal.

Stuart Bell cleared off his own goal line as the possibility of an equaliser and subsequent extra time looked a possibility.

However, the introduction of Paul Hartley restored Knutsford's superiority as he collected the ball wide on the left and curled a shot into the far corner to secure a 2-0 success.

TEAM: Johnson, Bell, Alan Brown, Kenyon, Leigh, Stevens, Masheder, Barnhill (substitute Hartley 55 minutes) Habershon, Fry, Hitchin (substitute Dow 65 minutes.) Substitute not used Davy.

On Saturday Knutsford face Crewe at Manchester Road in the Mid-Cheshire League, kick off 2.15pm.

In the next round of the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup (now down to the last sixteen) Knutsford will entertain West Cheshire League Heswell, who eliminated last season's winners Helsby in the third round.

Manager Stewart Dow has been busy enhancing his squad as Knutsford prepare to push for honours in both league and cup.

Ryan Gilligan has re-signed for the club and Paul Edwards, a former Bramhall player, has also signed for the Manchester Road club.

Meanwhile Mike Burnett, who featured last season, has also returned following a transfer from Cheadle Heath Nomads.

KNUTSFORD A played Sale Hotel ending with a nil-nil draw on Saturday.

Next week they are away to Broadheath Central, kick off 2pm.