Knutsford 4 Gamesley 1

KNUTSFORD share the lead with Linotype at the Cheshire League summit after seeing off Gamesley at Manchester Road on Saturday.

Goals for Liam Myers, Lee Morris, David Owens and Matthew Torbitt sealed victory for the hosts, who have played four games more than their title rivals.

Reds took the lead eight minutes in when Lee Mannion’s short corner found Thomas Rutter.

The forward picked out Myers at the far post and he headed back across goal for Torbitt to tap home from close range.

Joe Lucas crossed for Morris 10 minutes later, but he could not keep his attempt down.

At the other end, Knutsford goalkeeper John Stanway was called to make his first save.

But it was the hosts who looked more likely scorers; Owens, Myers and James Pickford combined for Rutter to prompt a save from Samuel McCoy.

Lucas crossed for Reds’ leading goalscorer Owens moments later, but the prolific forward was unable to add to his tally for the season

He did so after half an hour hour though from a pass sent his way by central defender Joshua Wates, slotting past the goalkeeper his 24th goal of the campaign.

Knutsford’s two-goal advantage lasted a matter of minutes before Torbitt conceded a free kick and Daniel Birkhead scrambled over the line from the resulting set piece.

It took Scott Dignan’s outfit until 10 minutes after the interval to further their lead, when Wates found Myers and the forward controlled and finished in one movement.

The hosts wrapped up the points when Morris side-stepped a defender before drilling a right-foot shot into the far corner.

Scott Beattie replaced Rutter with 20 minutes left as Knutsford controlled the game, with Sean Lynch replacing Morris five minutes later.

Defender Steve Jenyons had a 35-yarder tipped around the post late on, before Lynch crossed to Myers who side-footed wide.

Knutsford host Denton Town on Saturday.

Knutsford Stanway (GK), Lucas, Torbitt, Wates, Jenyons, Pickford, Mannion, Rutter (Beattie), Owens, Myers, Morris (Lynch)