Congleton Vale 2-2 Knutsford

LIAM Myers scored an exquisite late goal to earn for Knutsford a share of the spoils from a visit to Congleton, their conquerors in a cup tie the previous weekend.

The front man chipped a perfectly-measured shot over goalkeeper Robert Cooke with five minutes left to complete a comeback from 2-0 down at the interval.

Reds’ first goal had arrived only moments earlier when Vale’s number one inexplicably allowed a deflected ball to squirm between his legs after Myers had applied pressure to a defender.

The champions rise to fourth place in the Cheshire League’s top flight as a reward.

That outcome had looked unlikely when they conceded twice in quick succession midway through the opening period.

Scott Dignan’s side had begun brightly, going close when Ebbie Rezayan narrowly failed to connect with Tom Rutter’s driven cross.

Mike Cartner then picked out Sean Lynch, but he headed over the bar.

Congleton took the lead when Ryan Read converted a penalty after defender Graeme Brotherton was judged to have committed a foul.

A second goal followed shortly afterwards when George Sutcliffe’s angled shot was placed out of custodian Sam Moore’s reach.

It jolted the visitors, who toiled to recover initially.

Moore was called upon to save smartly after Dean Warburton gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, while another effort from the hosts dipped just over.

Myers teed up Rutter at the other end, but he skewed off target when well-placed.

Congleton continued to pose a threat in the second half, although Warburton was unlucky to see his attempt deflected to safety.

Rutter went close, again after being fed by Myers, before Reds survived a scare at the other end when Brotherton smuggled a goal-bound shot off the line.

David Owens, previously subdued, struck an upright to give Knutsford hope.

Warburton’s right-footer flashed over, although a reminder followed of Vale’s threat when Read tried his luck.

Knutsford’s recovery was sparked by a piece of luck, but Myers’ moment of magic secured a deserved draw with time running out.

They host Greenalls this Saturday, kick off 2pm.

Knutsford | Moore (GK), Beattie (Butler 56), Jenyons, Brotherton, Cartner (Spilsbury 65), Warburton, Rezayan, Owens, Rutter, Myers, Lynch Sub not used Smart