This could have been a classic; it wasn't - Crellin-Myers sent off after only 20 minutes for recklessly lashing out at Broome changed the nature of the game that ultimately, without extra time, went to penalties.

That incident may be unique in annels of football history?  Has a player ever scored a goal and then been sent off before he even got back to the half way line? It would seem that he took offence to Broome's attempts to retrieve ther ball from under his shirt in order to get the game going again.  Up until then the game was fairly even with Whaley possibly starting stronger albeit Wates and Jenyons held strong against Dwolitka and Burgess who harassed to close them down to prevent Knutsford playing out from defence - they didn't like that!

Knutsford took the lead against the run of play following a dribble and low cross from Owens on the right; the ball eventually ending up at the far post where Myers initial shot was brilliantly stopped by Tattersall at point blank range although ultimately it was scrabbled over the line.  Crellin-Myers then went from hero to zero in the space of 60 seconds.

Not unsurprisingly that prompted a sustained period of pressure from Whaley with Wates making two goal-line clearances in the space of as many minutes.  However Whaley's dominance brought dividends shortly before half time when Jack Gregory, lurking just outside the area, received the ball following a corner and placed a superb pass shot into the far corner from 22 yards.

The second half was a scrappy affair featuring Knutsford doggedly defending and with some midfield dominance although they failed to really bother Tattersall at all; indeed Whaley breaking out could and should have clinched the game on several occasions with Dwolitka just failing to latch on to a low cross early in the half.

Ultimately Sean Lynch (Knutsford) and Matt Brown & Dan Christie (WBAFC) were forced to leave the field through injury and so, with no extra time, it went to penalties.  Both keepers made a save before the shoot out went to sudden death in which Wates ultimately failed to hit the target leaving Whaley as winners 8-7 on penalties.

Not a great example of CFL football but an exciting game nevertheless; Knutsford although League Champions on several occasions have in the interim not beaten Whaley since 2012, the year WBAFC were promoted into the Premier League.  They just don't seem able to cope with the sheer spirit of a Whaley side that plays with pride for each other and never say die!

Knutsford: Moore, Beattie, Jenyons (Wilbrahem62), Wates, Lynch, Rezayan (Rutter 71) Pickford, Mannion (Carter 71) Evans, Owens Crellin-Myers. Subs not used: Torbitt, Scott.

WBAFC: Tattersall, Newton(m), Brown (Gemmill 78), Newton(R), Prophet, Sutton, Broome, Gregory, Anderson ((Christie 70 (Bailey 75)), Dwolitka, Burgess(G)

Subs not used: Jarrad