CHAMPIONS! Ladies Seal League Title

Knowle Ladies ran out 3-2 winners over Bromsgrove Sporting on Sunday, and by picking up all three points they therefore clinched the West Midlands Regional Women's League Division One title! A fitting triumph in their 25th year, and the club's centenary year.

Knowle knew a point would be enough to make the title mathematically certain and after a narrow cup final loss in the week, perhaps this was on their mind in a cagey open period.  Visitors Bromsgrove had the better of the early stages, with Knowle clearing crosses to concede a couple of corners early on and relying on an excellent Lily Phelps challenge to stop Elouise Russell from going clean through on goal.  Ash Kennedy blazed the rebound from that over the bar, but the Robins were looking shaky.

As Knowle settled, they came into the game and created opportunities of their own.  Darcey Garner saw her shot deflected into the side netting after a lovely team move, then Jess Barlow set up Trina Greaves to fire at goal, but her shot whistled past the post after taking a wild bounce off the rock hard surface. It was Bromsgrove who proved the more clinical however when they went ahead with 27 minutes played.  Knowle were unable to keep possession up front and their press left space for Kennedy out wide on the right.  She found an excellent diagonal ball over the top for Sophie Taylor to run onto and finish past her namesake Sophie Henness in the Knowle goal.

The Robins reacted well to the setback, Garner picking up Phelps' pass straight from kick off to send a shot wide, then Flo Hobbs was not quite able to connect with her header from a corner. The next set piece had a better result for Knowle and they were on level terms - Garner's ball evaded everyone in the box, but Greaves showed fantastic desire to chase it down out wide on the far side.  She turned and delivered a superb cross which midfield Demi Booth headed firmly into the Bromsgrove net.

The action was end to end at this point, and it was the away side with the next key moment.  Greaves was adjudged to have pulled Abi Bourne back when defending a corner and the referee pointed to the spot.  Thankfully for Knowle, Sade Alaka's penalty hit the post, and Hobbs was first to react to lash clear the rebound. Hobbs was at the centre of the last action of the first half too, when she earned a booking for pulling back Russell.  The free kick from Alaka was charged down by Holly Briggs in the Knowle wall and the home side's counter attack ended with Garner poking Morgan Betteridge's cross/shot wide.

The half time period allowed Knowle to regroup and settle, and they came out for the second half determined to seal their title, putting in a far better performance that underlined why they have done so well in the league this season.  The Robins were attacking at will down both flanks and their delivery looked dangerous.  It was another set piece that put them ahead however.  A handball 30 yards from goal saw Natalie Gibson and Garner in deep discussions, and it was the young protegee who took responsibility - she promptly smashed her effort into the net, despite keeper Maya Smailes getting fingertips to the ball.

Knowle came close on a couple of occasions to extended the lead; Greaves was inches away from both lifting Gibson's through ball over the Bromsgrove keeper and connecting with a wicked Garner cross soon after.  Grace Evans also saw a header from Betteridge's fine delivery loop into the arms of Smailes. Sub Keira Whitehouse also fired over from a Greaves knock down.  It felt like another goal was coming, and so it proved when another set piece caused Sporting issues.  Garner's delivery was palmed away by Smailes from under her crossbar, but Greaves was on hand to lash home the loose ball through a sea of players to give her side a 3-1 lead with 25 minutes left, and notch her 20th goal of the season.

Knowle had to be wary of Bromsgrove on the counter, and Alice Eva lifted a shot over the bar from a good position, but the majority of play was certainly with the home side. Chances came at the edge of box for Barlow, Whitehouse and Gibson, but none of them could find the target.  With five minutes left, Bromsgrove pulled one back through Ash Kennedy; she was teed up by Charlotte Wallis and looped a finish over Henness from out wide. 



The Robins' game management in the final stages was excellent however, keeping the ball high up the pitch and out wide to run down the clock and earn them their celebrations on the final whistle! 6 points clear of their nearest rivals means they cannot be caught, and Knowle will receive the league trophy next Sunday after their final home against Leamington, before a trip to Crusaders to finish off an amazing season.