KNUTSFORD’S strength in depth could make the difference if they are to win the Cheshire League’s Premier Division title, according to James Pickford.

Reds currently sit pretty at the top of the table, four points clear of Congleton Vale with a whopping five games in hand.

However, following a string of postponements because of the wet weather the men from Manchester Road complete the campaign with 10 games in the next five weeks.

The midfielder is confident they can cope.

“The mood is upbeat; it’s going to be a tough run-in but we’ve got a big squad with a lot of options,” he said.

“This is a tough league to win; we should have done last year, but made a few mistakes.

“We’re confident we’ve learnt from them though – there’s a good camaraderie in the group that will serve us well for the run-in.”

Reds are unbeaten since November in the league, but suffered knockout heartbreak last month when they lost the JB Parker Challenge Cup final on penalties to Whaley Bridge after battling heroically for the majority of the game with 10 men.

Pickford believes the agonising nature of that reverse has made his teammates more determined to end the season with silverware.

He said: “We deserved to win, even though we had a player sent off in the first half.

“We were the better side.

“Losing on penalties was cruel, but it could help us in the long run; it will definitely drive us on to finish the job in the league.”

Pickford is one of a handful of players still at the club from a team that won back-to-back Cheshire League titles in 2012 and again the following year.

They were runners-up to Linotype last season too.

He says that experience will serve them well in the battle for this year’s crown.

“That know-how will be important,” he added.

“We’ve got four or five players in the squad who have won this league and who know what it takes.

“We’ve got lads who know that seeing games out is more important than playing well at this stage.

“That will be key in the games coming up.”

Knutsford host Sandbach United tomorrow, Tuesday, kick off 6.30pm.

Rylands are their guests at the weekend.