Knutsford 3 Chester 2nds 2

KNUTSFORD’S return to winning ways came at a cost after goalkeeper Nick Fewtrell dislocated a shoulder during the closing stages.

Jonny Price, a scorer at the other end earlier in the contest, replaced him for the remaining minutes as the Black Knights protected a 3-2 lead.

They sit second in North West Men’s League Division Two after victories in four of their first five games.

The home team started swiftly, taking a deserved lead when David Price converted the first short corner of the game with a trademark drag flick.

However Chester, searching for a first victory of the campaign, restored parity when a front player dribbled around Fewtrell before slotting into an empty goal.

They created little else during an opening period dominated by Knutsford, but the hosts’ finishing too often was inaccurate.

The pattern didn’t deviate after the interval, though the Black Knights did break through following another short corner routine.

This time, Jonny Price slid the ball meticulously into the bottom corner.

They established a two-goal cushion shortly afterwards when star turn George Hughes’ dribble down the right earned a short corner.

From it, captain Mat Hodge rifled in a third score.

Chester kept alive their hopes of avoiding a third defeat of the campaign when one of their players rifled in a reverse stick shot two minutes from time.

During a melee that followed, Fewtrell sustained an injury that cut short his involvement.

His stand-in, Price, emerged unscathed at full time.