MAX Kennedy banged in a hat-trick of goals as Knutsford FC secured back to back wins for the first time this season.

The midfielder caught the eye throughout the 4-3 win at Winstanley Warriors for Nick Ward’s side, who leapt to third from bottom of the Cheshire Football League Premier Division.

Relegation danger remains a severe threat for Reds, who are next in action at home to Lostock Gralam on April 16, with the sides around them having considerable games in hand.

But they continue to have a chance if they carry on showing the grit and character produced in Wigan on Saturday.

Ward fielded a scratch side with no subs as player unavailability continues to dominate the season and it presented Knutsford with an uphill task on a bobbly pitch.

That task got harder when they fell 1-0 behind on 15 minutes after a corner to the near post wasn’t defended.

Kennedy and Jonny Cavanagh were showing some quality but Ben Geary as the lone forward was struggling to hold the ball up.

Reds got themselves back on level terms when Kennedy took a good free kick to the far post from the left, Cavanagh managed to head back to the six-yard area for Geary to tap home on 30 minutes.

Then Kennedy cut inside and crossed, with the ball going in for a 2-1 lead.

And shortly before half-time Kennedy netted again via a superb free-kick from 25 yards out.

Knutsford made a terrible start to the second half when they conceded from another corner.

And the scores were level again in the 82nd minute when a cross from the right was tapped home.

But Knutsford would not give in and on 90 minutes Kennedy scored his hat-trick goal straight from a corner.

Knutsford: Ainsworth, Potts, Firth, Brotherton, Shaw Kennedy, Cavanagh, McDade, Geary, Naylor, Gray.