MIDDLEWICH Town suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday, slipping to a 3-2 home defeat against Knutsford.

Town were the first team out of the blocks and within minutes Kyle Dyson and Mike Brandon had gone close, but neither managed to trouble the Knutsford goal.

But they soon got the breakthrough they deserved when Gary Bryning lobbed the Knutsford keeper from 30 yards following a poor clearance.

Town's joy was short lived as Goulding latched on to a through ball and slotted his shot beyond the onrushing Whitehead.

But Town showed resilience to take the lead again when a great strike from Jones was parried by the Knutsford keeper and Brandon was on hand to head home from three yards.

In an end to end game it was Knutsford who struck next through Sproston.

And they thought they had their third when a mistake by Andy Tutt allowed Bayliss to score, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Knutsford had to wait until late in the second half for the goal that proved to be the winner.

Poor defending allowed Dow to chest the ball into the path of Walker and with no reaction from the Middlewich defence, he buried the ball into the top corner of Whitehead's goal.

Town looked to get back into the game, but couldn't find the target.