South Cheshire 4 Knutsford 2

A FIERY contest resulted in Knutsford entering their Christmas break on the back of a defeat.

The Black Knights fought back from 2-0 behind and it was after tempers flared in the second period that South Cheshire reconfirmed their clinical touch from set-pieces to finish on top.

Knutsford, with the minimum 11 players, had Paul Howarth at right back for the first time this season and a new centre-back partnership in Lawrence and Young.

They were tested by a series of aerial balls in the opening exchanges, leading to a stretched game.

The Black Knights looked dangerous on the counter attack with the pace of Howard down the right wing but South Cheshire went 2-0 ahead from short corners.

Knutsford pulled one back almost immediately when an opportunistic G Rees was first to react to a ball bouncing back off a post.

They went into half time level thanks to a set-piece of their own, D Price converting the short corner.

Both sides had to battle through spells with 10 men as players were sent to the sin bin in the second period.

A further two goals from short corners gave SC the winning lead.

Despite applying pressure in the closing stages the Black Knights were unable to reduce the deficit.

They resume their campaign on January 10.