Cup Heartbreak For Knowle Ladies

It wasn’t to be for Knowle Ladies who put in a superb performance but still came out on the losing side in the League Cup final, succumbing 3-1 to Coventry Sphinx. The big moments in the game simply did not go Knowle’s way and the league champions were clinical enough to punish them severely for the few mistakes they did make.



The Robins tired a new system out with various players in different roles, and for the first ten minutes of the game, they focused on keeping things tight and working out the Sphinx game plan. The team in sky blue therefore held 90% of the possession in this period, yet without really hurting Knowle. Their first chance came from a corner but the attacker headed wide of the post. Once Knowle settled into their roles, they came into the game with a roar. The midfield set traps and leapt on any negative pass to win possession; Bex Clarke kept Sphinx’s creative midfielder quiet and Jess Holland was quick to stop the speedy winger finding any space. Kate Fleming in particular was all over her opponent and her industry allowed Demi Rolph to run at goal; she played a neat one two with Natalie Gibson but neither forward could get a clean shot off and Sphinx blocked the final attempt well.

Knowle then forced a series of corners, from one of which Maz Byrne won the header but the defender on the post outjumped all the bodies crowding the line to clear. At the other end of the pitch, last defender Morgan Betteridge reacted sharply to a loose ball and blocked the striker’s shot, slowing her down long enough to allow Byrne to clear. The Knowle defence held an excellent line, catching the opposition forwards offside whenever a through ball was played in.

Rolph again went close when she hit the side netting from a Gibson long throw, then Emma Shaw’s dangerous free kick was tipped wide by the keeper. Fleming nearly opened the scoring with a header from Betteridge’s cross, but the keeper did just about enough the scramble it away. It looked as though the game was heading for a 0-0 scoreline at half time, but in the 46^th minute, Sphinx won a corner after a deep ball into the box wasn’t cleared. Gibson headed the initial cross away but the corner taker picked up the loose ball and threw a speculative high ball back towards goal. Unfortunately for Knowle, keeper Katy Smirthwaite could only palm it backwards and with two players from each side throwing themselves at the ball on the line, it ended up in the back of the net. Knowle were devastated to concede against the run of play, but had no time to hit back and went in 1-0 down.

Another sucker punch came immediately after the second half began. Good interplay by Sphinx beat the Knowle press which was half a second too slow, and the forward raced onto the through ball to slide a finish past Smirthwaite. With a mountain to climb, Knowle kept working hard but Sphinx had the momentum now and were savvy enough to slow the game down whenever Knowle threatened. Set pieces were still a major threat for Knowle and Sam Smith really should have pulled one back for the Robins, but she connected poorly with Shaw’s corner and the header skimmed wide of the post.

Soon after, Knowle won a free kick in a glorious position when Fleming was pole-axed. Gibson’s shot hit the wall and ricocheted out to the full back who took advantage of the red shirts being caught in the penalty box and was able to advance deep into Knowle territory. It looked as though Knowle had done enough to stop her when Smith got a foot in to tackle her, but Betteridge’s clearance thumped into the full back’s shins and bounced remarkably kindly through towards the Knowle box. She made the most of the gift with a good finish past Smirthwaite. Knowle had no choice but to go again and they pulled one back quickly. A superb through ball by Camile Abbotts saw Rolph take a heavy touch, but Gibson followed up to shoot and the defender blocked it with her hand. Knowle were asking for a penalty, but they were given a free kick on the 18 yard line – no matter, Rolph put it in the net anyway with the aid of a deflection.

It was all Knowle from there on in on the attacking front, throwing caution to the wind. Substitutes Nadia Bacciochi and Alana White both put in incredible performances off the bench, with White beating the full back at will. One such mazy run saw her beat several blue shirts before being tripped around the penalty spot as she went to shoot; the referee waved advantage as the ball dropped to Bacciochi but Coventry’s keeper pulled off a stunning save to deny her, then the resulting scramble saw the ball hit the post and get cleared. Sphinx did get an opportunity to extend their lead; Gibson tripped the forward in the box but the penalty was blazed over the bar and indeed the stand. In the last ten minutes, Knowle kept trying to force another goal; Byrne went close with a difficult header and Betteridge hit a long ranger that needed saving, but they just couldn’t get the reward they needed. 

3-1 the final score, and Coventry Sphinx’s name on the cup – but a performance to be proud of from every Knowle player involved. The disappointment will linger; but this team stick together and will aim to go one better next year.