Bowdon 3rd 2-2 Knutsford

KNUTSFORD, favourites to be promoted as champions, demonstrated their resilience when they fought back from two goals down last weekend.

The Black Knights, who had prevailed in their previous seven Division One matches, might have nicked a victory too had Gary Brown’s penalty stroke late on not hit an upright.

They remain eight points clear at the North West Men’s League summit with five matches left.

A trip to Wigan is the first of those on Saturday, push-back 1.30pm.

The visitors, missing vice-captain Tom Adams through injury, made the early running at Bowdon where Jonny Price was denied by the goalkeeper when they came face-to-face.

It was a spur to the home team, who took the lead after their striker found space in the D before beating Tom Wright.

A second goal followed from a short-corner, prompting a reaction from Knutsford.

They halved the deficit before the break when Brown’s aerial pass released Keelan Sherwani and he ran clear before squeezing a shot into the net from an acute angle.

Graeme Wolfenden restored parity in the second-half with a trademark drag-flick from a short-corner, leaving Bowdon’s custodian with no chance.

Knutsford piled on the pressure after that, although their chances of securing a win were gone when Brown was unable to convert from the spot.

Closest-rivals Didsbury Northern seconds narrowed a gap to top spot when they brushed aside Bebington.

Results

North West Men's Hockey League

Saturday, February 10

Division One: Bowdon 3rd 2-2 Knutsford.

Division Four South: Knutsford 2nd 0-7 Bowdon 4th.

Fixtures

Saturday, February 17

Division One (1.30pm): Wigan v Knutsford.

Division Four South (2pm): Knutsford 2nd v Sale.

Division Seven South East (1.30pm): Triton 4th v Knutsford 3rd.

Sunday, February 18

Division Seven South East (1pm): Triton 3rd v Knutsford 3rd.