KNUTSFORD FC have become the first side to take points from the Cheshire Football League Premier Division’s early pacesetters.

Congleton VR arrived at Manchester Road on Saturday having won all five of their fixtures this season, including a 2-1 home win over Reds on the opening day.

However, Jordan Gunter’s side are now the first team to prevent them scoring and blot their record after securing a 0-0 draw.

Despite doing what nobody else has managed so far, Knutsford still had just the solitary win to show for their season going into a trip to Middlewich Town last night, Wednesday.

They went into that fixture sitting 11th in the Premier Division table.

In sweltering conditions, the game quickly descended into a battle of attrition with both defences excellently marshalled as Gunter stuck with his preferred 3-5-2 formation.

Going forward, Reds struggled to get their game going against a workmanlike Congleton side who were intent on completing a league double over their hosts.

It was the visitors who had the clearer first-half openings, with Knutsford stopper Callum Spencer saving well from Aaron Cook before Graeme Brotherton was required to clear an effort off the line.

At the other end, Terence Butler somehow failed to hit the target after Tom Rutter’s reverse pass set him up from close range while Liam Moran had a strong penalty appeal turned down after appearing to be felled by VR goalkeeper Cameron Phelps.

As the heat intensified in the second half, the play slowed down but it was still Congleton who had the better chances.

The visitors’ pressing was forcing Knutsford into mistakes and they spent the opening spell after the break on the back foot.

The lively Cooke shot wide from a good position while Spencer was forced into several saves – he was definitely the busier of the two keepers.

That said, Knutsford were not without chances of their own.

Rutter had two decent openings, but the ball rolled under his foot for the first before he shot tamely at Phelps with the second after Moran played him through.

A high-tempo finish was always unlikely with the heat and with that in mind, both sides seemed happy to settle for a point as the match drew to a close.

Reds’ next fixture sees them travel to another high-flying outfit in the shape of third-placed Crewe FC on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Knutsford: Spencer, Sutherland (Ratcliffe), Cartner, Lever, Brotherton, Spilsbury, Riley, Beattie (Goulden), Butler, Rutter, Moran.