Discipline in Short Supply at Hampton
19th August 2023 - Knowle 2-2 Birmingham United
This match was a bad tempered affair, not helped by the failure of the Referee to show up. Five minutes prior to Kick Off, his Assistant Mr Kennett took charge, with one line being run by club linesmen.
United were first out of the blocks, and The Robins were really unlucky when Liam O’Donnell inadvertently allowed the ball to rebound into the net after hitting his body. As it turned out it was the goal that denied The Robins the three points they deserved.
It took the home side a few minutes to recover from conceding, but when they did, they took control of the game. For the rest of the match in terms of possession and territory, The Robins were well on top. United are a decent side, who know all about the dark arts of the game.
With the half hour mark looming, Jack Rendell beat the off-side trap to level the scores. For the rest of the first forty-five minutes the crowd were waiting for the Robins to move ahead, but we drank our cups of tea with the scores still level.
The second period was not a good advert for Midland League Football. Both sides were frustrated, consequently discipline was in short supply.
With half an hour to go, Jack Mullen was on hand to complete a wonderful Robins’ attacking move with two shots in the Area blocked, before he found the net to put the Robins in front. And that, dear reader ought to have been that. But the Robins’ defence, so strong, so secure, allowed the lively Sesay to pounce on a speculative long ball. He pulled United level, and so it stayed.
For the Robins it is two points dropped. But the scenes after the final whistle, embarrassed both sides. This was not a pleasant afternoon of football at all, and the match has left a nasty taste in one’s mouth.
Knowle FC: Jeavons; Shaw; Staley; L Clark; Jones; Bennett; Corry (Craine); O’Donnell (Palmer); Rendell [28] (Mullen [63]); G Seeley (Riddiford); Taylor. Sub Not used: Manning. Yellow Cards: Mullen, Palmer, Taylor.
