Cup Defence Ends Early
9th December 2023: Knowle FC 1-2 Hampton FC
Going into the match, The Robins had not played for two weeks because of postponements, whereas Hampton had played last Saturday. The Robins were also missing the unavailable George Seeley, Jack Mullen and the cup-tied Dan Ellwell.
Congratulations to the groundsman at Hampton Road whose hard work enabled the match to go ahead despite recent persistent rain. Nevertheless, The Robins looked rusty and never really fired on all cylinders. Too many players were below par and with Hampton really up for the game, the result was not really a surprise.
The visitors controlled the midfield for most of the game, and but for some wonderfully agile saves by Craig Johnson the difference between the two sides could have been far greater.
As it was, Knowle actually went ahead when Tom Craine pounced on a defensive error to open the scoring. Yet Hampton had their fair share of the game, therefore an equalising goal always looked likely. It came right on forty-five minutes, when the impressive Murdie capitalised on a defensive error to score. At the halfway point, things were all square.
The start of the second half was Knowle’s best period. They pinned Hampton back and forced three corners in quick succession, but without a positive result. Then just past the hour mark Ainsley Seivwright produced a goal for Hampton to take the lead.
Matters got worse for The Robins when Froggatt put the visitors two goals clear. Knowle did all they could to draw even, and Tom Craine scored his second goal with ten minutes to go. With seven minutes of the ninety left, a nasty injury to Bushford in the Hampton goal forced him to leave the field, to be replaced in goal by Alex Birch who until then, had worn the number three shirt.
It was a great disappointment that for the remaining fifteen minutes that were played, Knowle could not force the substitute goalkeeper to make one save.
Hampton deserved their win, they were the better side.
Knowle FC: Johnson; Rainey; Riddiford (Staley); Lewis Clarke (c); Shaw; Bennett (Bourn); Corry (Jones); O’Donnell (Palmer); Craine [21&80]; Scott; Taylor (Rendell).
