CHAMPIONS Knutsford made the most of a defeat for closest rivals Whaley Bridge to extend their lead in Division One to seven points on Saturday.

Liam Myers’ double, plus goals from midfield pair Dean Warburton and Jamie Pickford, sealed a 4-0 win against Pilkington – Reds’ third successive league win since the turn of the year.

They had an added incentive to win the game, for the St Helens side were the first to defeat them this season back in October.

Whaley Bridge led inside a minute at home to Rylands, Lee Morris hitting the net, but efforts from Scott Bakkor and Dave Collard put the Warrington outfit in charge.

Morris’ second goal made it 2-2, but substitute Craig Smith’s brace made safe the points for Dave Parr’s men later on.

Liam Collins’ double fired Middlewich Town to a season high third place in the table as they edged out Gamesley by the odd goal in five.

Dean Burgess was on target too for the Witches, who have won six of their past seven league matches.

Eagle Sports, with six games in hand, will expect to overhaul Adam Morris’ men after a 2-1 win at wooden spoonists Grappenhall moved them to within two points of Town.

Crewe FC climbed to sixth in the standings after goals from Carl Everall and Mike Blundell sank Linotype, while Styal’s success at Garswood eased them clear of the relegation zone.

Lostock remain unbeaten in 2013 after putting six goals without reply past lowly Billinge, braces for Sam Wakefield and Ryan Jackson taking the Grey Lambs out of the bottom two.

Runcorn Town reserves preserved their three-point advantage at the Division Two summit after a 4-2 success at league newcomers Egerton.

Barnton, boosted by a four-goal salvo by William Webb in the space of 20 minutes, recorded their biggest win of the season against Congleton Vale as they took over second spot.

Kevin Towey, twice, Karl Brown, Leon Williams and substitute Matthew Rigby were on target too in a 9-0 victory.

A goal in each half from in-form Mark Faulkner secured maximum points for Poynton at home to Penlake, while Maine Road reserves reached fourth place after winning at Golborne Sports.

Elsewhere there were wins for Malpas and Sandbach at the expense of Moore and Daten.

Cheshire League
Saturday February 2
Division One

Crewe FC 2 Linotype Cheadle Heath Nomads 0
Garswood United 2 Styal 3
Grappenhall Sports 1 Eagle Sports 2
Knutsford 4 Pilkington 0
Lostock Grlam 6 Billinge 0
Middlewich Town 3 Gamesley 2
Whaley Bridge 2 Rylands 4

Division Two
Barnton 9 Congleton Vale 0
Daten 0 Malpas 4
Egerton 2 Runcorn Town res 4
Golborne Sports 0 Maine Road res 3
Poynton 2 Penlake 0
Sandbach United 4 Moore United 0