Big Win Sends Ladies Top

The big games are coming thick and fast in the West Midlands Regional League at this stage of the season and, with the two sides sitting level on points and goal difference at the top of the table, this match had top billing.  It was Knowle who lived up to the hype and produced a scintillating performance and an emphatic result, beating Droitwich Spa 0-6 on Sunday afternoon.

The warning signs of where Knowle's threat would come from were there early on - Robins were quick out the blocks with a well planned team move from kick off that saw Grace Evans' cross slide all the way across the six yard line with only a touch needed to knock it into the net.  A Droitwich defender then made a good clearance from just in front of the winger, and from the opposite side Darcey Garner sent a shot from edge of the box wide.  Possession wise, these early stages were pretty even but it was the away side making it count, peppering the Droitwich custodian with attempts whilst at the other end, Droitwich couldn't trouble the Knowle goal.  The Robins' attacking intent paid dividend on 13 minutes; Trina Greaves beat the full back to cross deep and although the Droitwich keeper managed to get a hand to it to divert the ball away from Jess Barlow, Evans was left free to head home.

Droitwich tried to hit back immediately, shooting straight from kick off, but Sophie Henness pushed it onto the bar and claimed the rebound. The Knowle keeper was called into action again, smothering a 1v1 chance well at the feet of the attacker and suffering a cut leg in the process which stopped the game for several minutes.  Knowle were back at it after the restart and pressurised the opposition well, with Evans and Greaves having attempts before they extended their lead.  Molly Hughes's quick throw set Garner off down the right wing, she cut inside to cross and Evans produced a tidy finish on the back post for her and her team's second of the game. Midfielder Holly Briggs was constantly in the action, winning plenty of possession and using it well, and she teed up both Garner and Greaves for long range attempts that both flew wide. Just before halftime, Droitwich felt unlucky not to pull one back when a good free kick forced Henness into a save that pushed the ball onto the post; Flo Hobbs reacting quickly to clear the rebound well away from danger.

The game may have seemed well poised, but to the delight of the travelling supporters, the Robins went up another gear in the second half.  Hughes had control of the dangerous attacker on her side, allowing Hobbs and Byrne to double up on the centre forward, leaving Droitwich with very little way out.  At the other end, Garner's pressing was superb all afternoon and she created the third Knowle goal on 54 minutes, nicking the ball off the full backs toes as Droitwich tried to play round the back and teeing up Greaves 1v1 to slot her finish past the keeper. Droitwich's best chance fell to the left winger who slid her shot past the post, but after that it was all Knowle.

Substitute Kate Fleming had a long range sighter that the keeper hung onto, but Hughes quickly won possession from the throw out and played into Greaves.  Her through ball found Garner in the corner of the box; her left footed attempt was blocked but she picked up the loose ball and bent it into the top corner with her right to give her side a four goal lead.  This seemed to kill off Droitwich's hopes and the final twenty minutes was all Knowle.  Some superb football created a number of good chances, not least for the fifth goal.  Hobbs won possession in her own half, Sam Smith mopped up and found Hughes in space. She found Greaves in the channel, Evans overlapped to receive the ball, cut inside and return in to Greaves, who looped it over the keeper from sixteen yards out.

In stoppage time, it was Knowle's sixth goal that brought the biggest celebrations and largely because of the scorer.  Young forward Keira Whitehouse stepped up to take a free kick from twenty five yards out and duly bent a terrific effort into the top corner for her first ever senior goal, much to the delight of her teammates and the management team.

Knowle Ladies made their way home with an important three points and a much needed boost to the goal difference then, as well as a performance with massive positives.  They will look to carry on that form and those levels after the Easter break, when they face Crusaders on 12th April.