WEAKENED THIRDS LOSE OUT TO PRESTBURY FOLLOWING LACKLUSTRE PERFORMANCE

With only Gary Cashmore coming close at second seed, Knutsford thirds were well and truly beaten by a much improved Prestbury.

First out Gwyn Pickering up against seasoned marathon man Pat Hunter. First game started evenly enough but a series of unforced errors byPickeringcost dearly to put Hunter one up. The same pattern followed in the second and third games withPickeringstruggling to find that early season form. Abrief fight back in the the third seemed to be on the cards but Hunter was not to cave in and took the tie 3-0 withPickeringalways second best. A catalogue of errors cost the game.

Next on, Robo at 3 against the old campaigner John Bennett. Robo started the first well enough pinning Bennet down at the start but Bennett upped the pace and although running around retrieved al that was thrown at him to take the game 9-5. Robo started the second well enough and some long hard rallies followed but Bennett was more than a match and steamed ahead to take the second 9-7. By the third both were tiring abut Bennett held the upper hand. And a series of errors from Robo made the difference. Bennett took the game 9-2 and match. A disappointing performance from Robo,

Knutsford two down, match not looking good.

Cashmore in his first game for a while was next up at two. Cashmore started brilliantly dominating the T and quickly forcing his opponent Barry Gordon on to the back foot. Tight and accurate play was the pattern of the first two games with Cashmore in the driving seat to go 2-0 up. With the match in sight the third was an even battle with both players stretching and challenging each other and playing some fine squash in the process. The game towed and fro wed, with one then the other gaining the upper hand. At 9-9 and serving for the match Cashmore had his chance but drove the ball into the tin to lose the serve. Gordon held his nerve to take the game 10-9. At two one down Gordon began his comeback with Cashmore clearly reeling from missing his chance and took the next quickly to level at 2-2. At two all and all to play for Gordon came out steaming and by this time Cashmore was on the back foot with Gordon doing most of the driving. A brief fightback by Cashmore ensued but it was not enough and Gordon fought on to take the game 9-4 and match 3-2. Great performance fromGaryat the start just lost his nerve at a vital stage but two valuable points in the bag.

Roger Snape, turning out at four was next to play Rupert Richards in what looked initially like an even match. The first game was even but at 7-7 Richards dug deep to take it 9-7. Encouraged by his early success, Richards came out of the blocks firing on all four cylinders to quickly take the second 9-1, never giving Snape the chance to settle. Snapey fought back in the third matching Richards in the first half of the game but a surge of pace by Richards was to catch him out. Richards took the game 9-6 and the match 3-0. The night was not looking great for Knutsford, already 4-0 down.

Last on at 1 was Dave Smith steeping up not for the first time this season against the might of Rob Thorneycroft. The game started with Thorneycroft dominating but Smithy kept his nerve to play a steady length game. Alas it was not to b,e and Thorneycroft using all his experience took the first game 9-2. A brief fight back by Smithy in the second seemed to be on the cards but Thorneycroft took control and the second went 9-4 in his favour. A brave attempt by Smithy in the fourth was not quite enough and Thorneycroft began to dominate. At 9-4 game and match was all over.

Not the best performance of the season with much to take away including a promising return from Cashmore giving him the man of the match award this week. Things can only get better and a focus on next week's last game before Xmas is what matters now.

For the Match Score Click Here