Report

Tarporley Victoria ....  1  Knutsford ....3

PLAYED in awful conditions, nonetheless,  top versus bottom worked out fairly predictably at Tattenhall on Saturday as Knutsford maintained a two point advantage at the head of the Cheshire League.

A biting cold wind blew mercilessly right down the ground amidst the rolling Cheshire countryside, nice surroundings but ridiculous conditions rendering good football nigh on impossible. Knutsford played into the teeth of the gale in the first half and at times it was akin to throwing a paper cup into a wind tunnel. Not that that seemed to matter to Knustford’s new signing Tom Rutter who surprised McNeil in Vics’ goal on two occasions driving shots against the elements  and against the woodwork.

In the seventh minute Rutter drilled a fierce shot which smacked the underside of the cross bar and Sam JACKSON steadied himself before sweeping home the loose ball to put the League leaders ahead. Jackson, deployed in central midfield in the absence of the suspended Rezayan, looked increasingly comfortable in his new role and celebrated his first goal for Knutsford.

Tarporley’s Rowntree clipped Rutter’s heels and sent the Knutsford man crashing to ground, it looked a very decent bet for a penalty but referee Mr Eadon waved play on. Rutter then hit the foot of the post .

James Pickford, who has now overcome the season ending injury he endured last March, is returning to the sort of form he displayed when he arrived at the club. He is always neat and tidy and as compact a player you are likely to come across and here he was everywhere. Breaking up Tarporley attacks and setting Knutsford back into forward momentum on several occasions. He also caught hold of a long distance shot that tested McNeil before the break.  

Lee Jackson curled a left footed free kick around the wall which McNeil spilled and Smart might have done better following up. Knutsford needed a second goal.  For although the home side were not short of work rate they did not look too capable of creating openings themselves, but with a narrow one goal advantage it would take only a moment in freakish conditions to bring them back into the game.  So it almost proved as the wind held the held the ball up to deceive  Higgs in Knutsford’s goal  and he dropped the ball at the feet of Richard Moss with the goal gaping, a linesman’s flag for offside spared the Knutsford man’s blushes.

The second goal duly arrived and not surprisingly it came from the invention of RUTTER on 72 minutes. Pickford played the ball forward down the right flank and although Rowntree was favourite in the chase for the home side, Knutsford’s 23 year old displayed sufficient tenacity and turn of pace to outstrip him before cutting into the area and sending  a low drive across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of goal.

It said something of Tarporley’s threat when, apart from the aforementioned Higgs mistake, they had their first genuine shot on target with only 14 minutes remaining. This time Higgs restored normal service and smothered the shot with good handling.

For good order’s sake RUTTER scored a third Knutsford goal on 81 minutes. It was his second of the afternoon and third in two games and if he indulges in scoring scruffy goals, we haven’t seen it yet. He collected the ball some 25 yards out and clipped a delicious arcing shot into the far corner of the hosts goal leaving McNeil clutching at the proverbial thin air. Rutter then departed the scene after picking up a slight strain but he had done his work for the day.

In the dying embers Tarporley claimed a consolation goal from a rather dubious penalty. Jenyons went down in the area with Vics’ Moore, a swirling wind and a tangle of legs seemed to be enough for the referee to point to the spot amidst disbelief on both sides. Ed PATTINSON stepped up to thump the spot kick to Higgs left.

TEAM: Higgs; Jackson M, Smart, Jenyons, Jackson S; Jones (Cartner 62 mins), Warburton, Pickford, Jackson S (Myers 74); Rutter (Schofield M 81), Williamson. Sub (n/u) Shakoor.