Knutsford beat Macclesfield to occupy third place going into winter break

KNUTSFORD remain well-placed in a race for promotion to the North West Men’s League top flight after beating neighbours Macclesfield.

The Black Knights will start 2016 occupying third position in Division Two after goals from Mat Hodge, Max Berkeley and Keelan Sherwani secured a sixth win from their past seven matches. 

They started Saturday’s contest with a flurry of fast attacks, creating several early chances without hitting the backboard.

The steadying influence of man-of-the-match Simon Trenbirth in the middle of the pitch was a source of passes for the visitors’ attackers, and they eventually found a way through.

Hodge was the beneficiary, lifting a smart finish over the goalkeeper.

When Macclesfield attempted to reply, a defence of Tom Adams, Iain Lawrence, Stuart Kenyon and Jim Halling stayed solid.

That was until a short-corner routine before the break which left the score at 1-1 after goalkeeper Tom Wright was left stranded.

Skipper Dave Price shared stern words with his side during the interval, after which Berkeley restored Knutsford’s advantage after combining with Hodge.

Adam Locke, Tom Howard and Price himself had set the move in motion.

A third goal arrived before full time, when pressure from visiting attackers forced an error by a defender.

After possession changed hands, a square pass was sent Sherwani’s way and he applied a finishing touch.