Knutsford 1 Garswood United 0

KNUTSFORD stormed to the Cheshire League’s summit with a narrow win over the reigning champions on Saturday.

Manager Scott Dignan changed formation while handing debuts to Tom Bane and Jordan Young, who scored the game’s only goal.

Garswood found themselves down to 10 men after quarter of an hour when Steve Boothman was sent off following an altercation with Lee Mannion, who was cautioned.

Young opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a drive from the edge of the box after fine approach play by James Pickford.

Robbie Robertson then missed a chance, but made amends with an excellent cross to the far post that Sean Lynch headed wide.

Garswood’s centre forward then headed off-target on a rare foray in the Knutsford box, before Pickford saw his 30-yard drive tipped around an upright.

Knutsford played at a high tempo after the interval too, when Robertson saw a shot well-saved before Young had an effort blocked.

Mannion then delivered a clever through ball to Robertson, but the winger ballooned his shot over the bar as the home team continued to apply pressure.

Vinnie Braine’s curler rebounded off a post on the hour but Garswood, struggling this season after losing key players during the summer, continued to battle. 

Braine could not make the most of a half chance, while Jake Leyland went close at the other end.

Jamie Wolden’s first impact as a substitute was a mazy run and delivery to Braine, but the forward shot tamely.

Visiting goalkeeper Graham McCall was in fine form, thwarting Knutsford on a number of occasions, but the stop-start nature of the game continued as the referee handed out a total of nine yellow cards in addition to the early red.

Pickford blazed over the upright again before Robertson rattled the crossbar as Garswood’s workrate started to drop owing to Knutsford’s numerical advantage.

Substitute Lee Morris was next to have a chance, but he hit wide.

In the closing stages, Garswood won a corner and looked to steal a draw by sending McCall upfield.

However Steve Jenyons met the resulting cross to ensure the hosts held on for points.

Knutsford have won eight of their opening dozen matches in the Premier Division this season, leaving them a single point better off than second-placed Linotype.

Knutsford Moore (GK), Lucas, Lynch, Jenyons, Beattie, Bane (Owens 75), Pickford, Mannion (Wolden 65), Young, Robertson, Braine (Morris 75) Subs not used Smart, Torbitt