AFTER last week's dour draw, Bolton First XI combined with Knutsford to provide a thrilling match of countless chances and emerged worthy 5-3 winners.

The match also provided a stage for John Woods to produce a dazzling display, and for Chris Williams to get his first league goal since records began.

Bolton were allowed ample possession and used it to spend long periods encamped in the opposition half, while Knutsford seemed content to stand firm in defence and try to catch the home side on the break.

Bolton also had to contend with a goalkeeper, who appeared to relish being used for target practice. The concerted efforts of Woods, Way, Aitken and King were repelled by any and all parts of his body. Further chances were blazed wide and it appeared that Bolton would not break through, particularly after a succession of five penalty corners went begging. It fell to Woods to break the deadlock with the strike from yet another penalty corner.

Bolton took the chance to relax, and sure enough Knutsford came storming back, finally piercing Scott Tobutt's enveloping marking with a simple move that left Paul Neville in goal too exposed.

Harsh words at half time brought immediate rewards, as Woods decided that he had had enough of lethargy. A series of neat passes created some room, which Woods powered in to and scored from an unlikely angle. Woods then showed supreme finesse, slotting home a penalty stroke after Aitken's shot had been illegally stopped on the line. With the game now won, Chris Williams chose to get in on the act beating the bemused keeper with a crisp drive.

Williams tried one trick too many and Knutsford grabbed a second. Woods responded with another penalty stroke awarded at the end of a neat move which had resulted in a cynical foul, only for a wayward pass from the left let in another Knutsford attack for a sweet finish.

At the finish, boring 1-0 wins suddenly did not seem so bad.

While the Seconds and Thirds could only draw, Bolton's other teams all got back to winning ways.

The Fourth XI had to overcome brittle confidence and a poor first half, in which they conceded the opening goal to run out 2-1 winners against Winnington Park. Tony Moore dragged the team back, and once established, the Bolton passing game began to dominate. Dave Burdaky crashed home the equaliser before Matthew Rimmer converted the game winning penalty stroke.

The Fifth XI overcame high flying Wigan 3-2 to wreck the visitors' 100 per cent record. Matthew Simpson thought he had got the first, only for it to be disallowed, but Simpson was on hand to guide home Rob Scarthe's pass and then deflect the ball high into the roof of the net from a pinpoint ball from Vinod Patel, putting Bolton ahead after Wigan had taken an early lead.

Thereafter, the Wigan keeper kept his side in the game pulling off a series of stunning saves, including a headed clearance, but even he could not stop Scarthe pouncing on a rebound to edge Bolton clear.

Bolton's back line of Harold Smith, Allen Bell and Phil Orth then called upon all their experience, employing both fair means and foul, to limit Wigan's spirited attack to a single further goal, with Carl Yorke denying one final effort with a stunning save.

The U14 Beavers could not emulate the older club mates and were outclassed by Preston. Their defence held firm despite constant pressure until just before the interval, when the home side got their first goal. Bolton tried to respond in the second half and had their own chances, but failed to score, only for Preston to kill the game off with two further late goals. The 3-0 score line was scant reward for an heroic match in goal from Robert Allen.