Southport 0-4 Knutsford

KNUTSFORD scored twice in each half on Saturday to secure a deserved win at Southport, putting behind them back-to-back draws.

Mat Hodge and Graeme Wolfenden both claimed doubles, sending the unbeaten Black Knights up to second spot in the North West Men’s League’s top flight.

They assumed control from the start, and Hodge fired them in front after 10 minutes.

The visitors continued to create chances, and to spurn them, until Wolfenden was alert to sneak in front of his marker to deftly deflect in a second goal before the interval.

At the other end, goalkeeper Tom Wright was equal to the hosts’ attempts to beat him.

Player-coach Simon Trenbirth called for Knutsford to be more clinical during his interval rally, a message that appeared to have got through when Wolfenden made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart.

The Black Knights continued to attack, with Gary Brown dictating play from a midfield position, although a fourth goal did not arrive until later.

Tom Adams, filling in at right-back, fired the ball into the circle after finding himself deep in opposition territory.

It reached Hodge, who stretched to send a reverse-stick shot high into the net to claim Knutsford’s best goal of the game.

The Black Knights, with 24 goals to their name from four fixtures to date, continued to pour forward for the remainder.

However they could not conjure a fifth before the final whistle.

Urmston visit Westfield Drive this Saturday, push back 2.15pm.