A PENALTY shoot-out ended Knutsford's hopes of competing in the Mid Cheshire League Challenge Cup final on Saturday.

The Reds were 2-1 up at Manchester Road with just four minutes left when Barnton equalised, forcing the result to penalties.

Knutsford had begun positively and there was very little to choose between the two sides until Stewart Dow scored on half-time to send the home supporters into delight.

But two minutes into the second-half Will Killey scored for Barnton.

The home supporters had to wait another 20 minutes for Knutsford's second goal.

A long ball forward had Barnton's goalkeeper in all sorts of trouble and Stewart Dow pressurised the goalkeeper who misjudged the bounce and the Knutsford man adroitly steered a volley home.

There were plenty of crunching tackles between two sides who have become fierce rivals.

Mark Emmerson, who had earlier been booked for the visitors, scythed John Iddon's legs, earned a second yellow card and was sent off.

Barnton's Paul Lambert induced an undisciplined piece of stamping from centre-back Andy Brown who was sent off by the referee.

As the minutes ticked by the 2-1 scoreline looked like it may be enough to see Knutsford through, but Barnton substitute Milne found the perfect run to steer home the equaliser.

Extra time never threatened to produce a winner and it was left to the vagaries of the penalty shoot-out to decide a winner.

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