Knutsford 1 Congleton Vale 0

AN early goal from Liam Myers was enough to seal a cup success on Saturday.

The front man's seventh-minute free kick clinched a quarter-finals meeting with Poynton next month in the JB Parker Challenge Cup.

It was the first chance for either side and, despite Myers being close to 30 yards from goal, he whipped the ball over the visitors' defensive wall before seeing it dip into the top corner of Congleton's net.

He will hope to repeat the trick when the teams meet again in a Cheshire League fixture this weekend, kick off 3pm.

Congleton increased what was already a high tempo, going close when Matthew Torbitt was beaten by an attacker on the edge of the area before Josh Wates made a saving tackle.

On 17 minutes, Steve Jenyons slipped when attempting to deal with a long ball, but goalkeeper John Stanway was alert to save a shot sent his way immediately afterwards.

Reds' best move, started by James Pickford, followed.

Torbitt, Sean Lynch and Mark Evans all played a part, the latter supplying a diagonal pass for David Owens on the right.

His dribble ended with a shot that flashed wide.

A similarly flowing raid in the 35th minute saw Myers turn provider for Owens, but visiting goalkeeper Robert Cooke was equal to his effort.

It was not all one-way traffic; Congleton almost scored from long range only for Stanway, who reacted late, to recover with a low save to his right.

A defender headed over from close range, then a teammate steered off-target with the goal at his mercy after Stanway had parried the ball clear.

Knutsford created chances early in the second half, the clearest falling for Owens - from Lee Mannion's cross - but he blasted straight at the keeper.

Reds' guests finished strongly, but could not find a way through a well-marshalled defence.

Knutsford: Stanway (GK), Wates, Jenyons, Torbitt, Lynch, Pickford, Mannion (Beattie 70), Evans, Owens (Jennings 75), Rutter (Rezayan 70), Myers.