IN what was billed as a key top-of-the-table clash, it was Knutsford Hockey Club men's firsts who finished 2019 with a statement win.

Cameron Geimer's winner allowed them to see off league leaders Brooklands and go into 2020 trailing them by just two points.

Both teams showed quality in the early stages, keeping possession well and attacking with intent, but neither side was able to turn it into goals.

Gary Brown and Tom Adams were pulling the strings for Knutsford, spreading the ball wide for their wing backs to attack.

Knutsford Guardian:

Tom Howard looks up to see whose available for his pass. Picture: Mike Parsons

This resulted in short corners but the Black Knights were not able to capitalise.

At the other end, Brooklands were being held at bay as the game reached half time scoreless.

The hosts began to dominate after the break and eventually, they got their reward

Geimer, whose display saw him named man of the match, won and converted a short corner 15 minutes after the restart.

Brooklands now had to push for an equaliser, but that left spaces for the hosts to exploit on the counter attack.

They could not take advantage and they were forced to hold on in the later stages as Brooklands laid siege to the Knutsford goal to no avail.

Meanwhile, the women's firsts got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Oxton.

Things started well for Knutsford as they took the lead inside the first 10 minutes – Liz Ball converted with a clean strike from a short corner.

However, the lead did not last long as Oxton managed to breach Knutsford's defence for an equalising goal.

Knutsford came out for the second half eager to press on and their were rewarded when Katie Price slammed home the winner from another short corner.

Browse the picture gallery from the ladies' game above