Cheshire Football League

A FIRST-HALF hat-trick earned Knutsford FC another valuable win their bid to return to the Cheshire Football League top flight.

Matt Mountney’s triple strike in 15 minutes was enough to see off the challenge of Wythenshawe Reserves, leaving Reds top f the table on 30 points at the halfway point in the season.

Incredibly, it took Knutsford until December 31 to reach the 15-game milestone last season, a point at which they were eighth on 23 points.

Now they need to build on the platform they have set for themselves, although their next three matches will be in cup knockouts.

They host St Helens Town in the JA Walton Challenge Cup first round on Saturday, have a blank Saturday the weekend after, then visit Mallaby in the Cheshire Amateur Cup third round on Saturday, November 2 before heading to Styal in the Altrincham FA Senior Cup on Saturday, November 9.

Against a much-changed Wythenshawe, Knutsford were again short of regular starters but were the better side in a tough game.

Knutsford could have scored seven based on clear chances but did not and were thankful for Mountney’s heroics.

For his first goal, Mountney met Mawdsley’s cross with a solid header from eight yards.

Mountney got on the end of a terrific through ball from Cavanagh for the second strike.

And then Lenihan found Mountney inside the six-yard area for goal number three.

Knutsford: Smith, Wilbraham, Wooley, Maunder, Brotherton, Newman, Cavanagh, Mountney Mawdsley, Mathers, Lenihan Subs Used: Draper, Jackson, Anderson

Knutsford and District Snooker League:

CHAMPIONS Shaw Heath continue to lead the way in Knutsford and District Snooker League with their fifth straight victory.

Their latest success came away to Mobberley A in a match that had the season's highest break so far with Adam Griffith's 46 break.

Morley Green are five points behind in third (but with a game in hand) following their own 4-2 away win against Heald Green A.

Mere A picked up their first win of the season with a fine 6-1 win against bottom side Tatton B.

The top of the table in Division Two could barely be closer after five weeks with Heald Green B just a point ahead of Shaw Heath B.

Mobberley C and Wilmslow Cons A are just three points behind and both still have a game in hand so it is definitely looking like there will be at least four teams involved in the promotion battle.

Heald Green B moved to the top with a 4-3 victory away to Tatton C.

Wilmslow Cons A's brilliant 6-1 victory over Shaw Heath B signalled their intentions for this season and Mobberley C's good run continued with a 5-2 derby victory against their B team.

Knutsford and District Snooker League results: Heald Green A 3 Morley Green 4, Mere A 6 Tatton B 1, Mobberley A 3 Shaw Heath A 4, Mobberley C 5 Mobberley B 2, Shaw Heath B 1 Wilmslow Cons A 6, Tatton C 3 Heald Green B 4.