And what could have been a stormy encounter, was played in good spirits, with no bookings or dismissals on either side. It was the first time the sides had met since Barnton won their second successive title.

They clinched the league after winning a replayed game they originally lost, with Knutsford claiming the match should not have gone ahead again.

All that was forgotten as Dale and Paul Hennin went close early on. Barnton struck the decisive goal after 26 minutes when Dale ran on to Mark Emerson's perfectly weighted pass, beating a static back four and shooting past the advancing Knutsford 'keeper.

The hosts had the best of the first half and continued to dominate after the break, although Derek Fortune was forced into the save of the match, tipping the ball away for a corner as it seemed destined to find the top corner.

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