Knutsford 2-3 Didsbury Northern 2nd

KNUTSFORD’S bid to score a late leveller fell short when they suffered a first defeat of the season on Saturday.

The Black Knights twice replied after going two goals down, but the visitors to Westfield Drive successfully protected the lead to secure maximum points.

Didsbury went in front in the first half after pinching back possession in a dangerous position, launching a raid down the right that ended with a man applying a finishing touch at the far post.

Knutsford, depleted by the absence of Mat Hodge and Graeme Wolfenden, cursed their luck when Simon Trenbirth’s goal-bound attempt from a penalty corner hit struck the back of the goalkeeper’s helmet.

Their mood will not have improved either when they conceded a second goal in identical fashion to the first.

They did halve their arrears before the break when Jonny Price, after escaping the attention of his marker, steered in from close range.

Didsbury soon restored their advantage though following a swift counter-attack, their forward stretching to divert a cross out of net-minder Tom Wright’s reach.

The Black Knights felt they should have had a penalty stroke when Jonny Price was halted by a deliberate stick tackle, only to be awarded a short corner instead.

Captain Dave Price was shown a yellow card for his protest.

A second goal arrived while Knutsford were down to 10 men when Keelan Sherwani’s cutback from the by-line was inadvertently turned in to his own net by a retreating defender.

Wright made a smart save to deny Didsbury a fourth goal, although the home team could not conjure an equaliser.

A trip to Bowdon’s thirds follows this weekend, push back 1.30pm.