THE Altrincham Saturday League season got underway over the Bank Holiday weekend and once again Pelican found themselves minus the services of key players who were away on holiday.

Some re-shuffling was required, but the early signs were promising.

However, there was a downward turn on 17 minutes when Rick Mesquita blazed a penalty over the bar and to rub salt in the wounds, Knutsford scored just two minutes later to go 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Mark Cartner.

On the half hour Mark Knutsford went further in front as Ryan Taylor made it 2-0. However, Pelican managed to pull it back to 2-1 just before the break as Rob Marr crossed from the right and the ball sailed in, over the head of Knutsford keeper Greg Barnett. Like all goalscorers, Marr was adamant that this was what he had meant to do!

With some tactical changes at halftime and only one goal in it, Pelican went in search of the equaliser, but once again they suffered a cruel blow on 55 minutes as keeper Ron Dunn made a brilliant one-handed save after the ball took a wicked deflection, only to see it fall to Mark Cartner who made it 3-1 with a simple tap-in.

On 78 minutes Pelican were further depleted as midfield dynamo Nicky Plant suffered a 'dead leg' and had to be substituted. Knutsford quickly capitalised and Pip Cartner put them 4-1 in front with only ten minutes remaining. With three minutes left Pelican grabbed a consolation goal as defender Phil Bennett scored from close range, but it was all too little, too late.

On Saturday Pelican travel to AFC Sale (Manor Avenue, 2-0 pm).