Altrincham & District Senior Cup Final

Knutsford 3 Atlantic 2

Knutsford A Team win Senior Cup for the 5th time

On a fine night, a top quality pitch and with great support, Knutsford secured a well deserved win in the biggest cup competition - the local FA Cup, playing the high tempo quality football that has excited the supporters throughout the season.

A just reward after a 10 month campaign which started with pre-season training back in June 2006.

Missing top scorer Hughes and midfield engine room Howells the management decided to 'go for it' and selected a team that would attack and take the game to Atlantic.

Igenoza came in on the right of midfield to add extreme pace and power to the attacking threat of Sully and Ali with the clever Morphet and Hussain forming the midfield partnership and engine room of the team.

Knutsford started brightly and mounted several attacks, but Atlantic were well prepared and fielded a strong and experienced side with threats from midfield and especially down their left side.

The opening goal came on 20 minutes after Sully was brought crashing down in the box after a mazy run for an obvious penalty. Sully enjoying a terrific season stepped up cool as ever to slot home.

But the lead was short lived as Morphet gave away the ball in midfield and a free kick was conceded outside the Knutsford box and taken quickly to make it 1-1. A big mistake of concentration and similar to the Giggs free kick against Lille giving keeper Mottershead no chance.

With 10 minutes to go before half time, Morphet made amends for his error, picked up the ball in the Atlantic box and weaved past 2 defenders to slot home and make it 2-1 to put Knutsford back in the driving seat.

The attacking pace and quality of Knutsford's forward play was always a threat to Atlantic, but they defended in numbers and didn't provide any easy chances. Going forward, Atlantic didn't have real quality, but were strong and had aerial power though the Knutsford defence of Cox, Faulkner, Rovira and Jackson superbly marshalled by keeper Mottershead were disciplined and well concentrated playing as a unit.

The half time score of 2-1 was a fair reflection of play without Knutsford hitting the heights and for the big crowd; it was a game of quality and excitement.

A heated half time team talk in the Knutsford dressing room with the sometimes overloaded midfield looking for extra support and cover to address the Atlantic forages down the left was discussed but the game plan was re-enforced - we will play football and attack Atlantic at pace and we accept we will take chances defensively - live by the sword - die by the sword.