KNUTSFORD FC saw their promising recent run brought to a shuddering halt on Saturday.

Returning from a week’s break, Reds were aiming to build on a three-match winning sequence in all competitions as third-place Vulcan visited Manchester Road.

However, they were brought back down to earth with a bump as the visitors left having thrashed Nick Ward’s men 6-0.

Four of the goals were scored in a nightmare first half as a red-hot Vulcan side took complete command.

Knutsford keeper Dominic Smith had already made an excellent save before the visitors took the lead six minutes in via a 20-yard strike that went in off the post.

Vulcan were dominant and denied the hosts any time and space, with Samuel Hadfield-Summerbee having Knutsford’s best effort as he sent a shot just wide.

The lead was doubled just prior to the half-hour mark as Reds failed to deal with a cross from the right and when the third goal went in following more defensive indecision, heads were well and truly down.

Stuart Wellstead cut through the defence to score Vulcan’s fourth goal and only a fingertip save from Smith denied them a fifth before the break.

Manager Ward made two changes at the break as Jack Naylor and Tom Hawley were brought on and while they improved slightly in performance, it was not enough to make any kind of impact.

With the game effectively won, Vulcan took their foot off the gas for most of the second half but managed to add two further goals to compound Reds’ misery.

They made it 5-0 with a tap-in following a cross from the left before rounding off the scoring with a free header on 76 minutes.

The result leaves Ward’s men 10th in the Cheshire League One table with four wins and five defeats from their 10 matches.

Their next fixture sees them welcome Avon Villa to Manchester Road on Saturday, kick off 2pm.

Team: Smith, Bowey, Preston (T Hawley), D Hawley, Morgan, Law, Kennedy, Roddick (Williams), Daverin (Naylor), Bibby (Preston), Summerbee (Burgess)