Five Star Display from Ladies

Knowle Ladies were keen to prove themselves in a match that had been billed as a top of table clash and so they set out to stamp their authority early on. Leamington enjoyed some early possession, but could not settle enough to create an opportunity in the face of the home side’s high tempo. A crunching tackle from Alice Belcher and a sharp Poppy Wheatstone shot that flew wide set the tone and warned of things to come from Knowle’s two best performers on an afternoon where the whole squad rose to the occasion. Knowle went ahead after just six minutes; good hold up play and quick feet by Jess Barlow enabled Annie Stanway to set Wheatstone free in the box. The keeper got a touch to her shot but could not keep it out the net and the forward was able to celebrate her first Knowle goal. Leamington responded well, clipping balls down the wing and forcing a series of corners but the Knowle backline dealt with them well, Rach Keen and Maz Byrne clearing the crosses. Knowle went forward again and won a free kick which spelled danger as soon as Natalie Gibson stepped up. She pinged her shot against the underside of the crossbar and there was some confusion as to whether it had crossed the line, but Belcher followed up to ram the ball into the net and save the argument. The midfielder was at it again two minutes later, exchanging one twos with Barlow before finishing across goal to give The Robins a 3-0 lead. Playing with confidence now, Knowle had their best spell of the game with some sweeping football that moved the ball forwards up the pitch and switched play from wing to wing. A goalmouth scramble followed another Gibson free kick but the Leamington keeper was brave to pounce on the loose ball, and attempts by Stanway and Jess Holland were also saved well. Wheatstone was causing the Leamington backline no end of problems with her work rate and she started and finished the move that led to Knowle’s fourth. She robbed the full back of possession and laid a pass back to Morgan Betteridge in support. Good play by her and Stanway played Wheatstone in behind and she slammed an unstoppable shot inside the post from a tight angle. To their credit, Leamington regrouped and finished the first half well, defending strongly and pushing forward more. The forwards managed to get in behind Knowle out wide on a couple of occasions but were unable to create chances other than a skidding near post attempt that Katy Smirthwaite fielded well. Knowle were well worth their 4-0 halftime lead however.

A change of shape helped Leamington in the second period and Knowle were perhaps guilty of taking their foot off the pedal with the game becoming a more even affair. Knowle should have extended the lead within the first five minutes though, great play by Belcher skipping past a few challenges and then squaring to Wheatstone, but she couldn’t connect properly when it seemed the hat trick was there for the taking. Tiah Underhill and Emma Shaw had joined the fray at halftime and the former had to defend strongly when isolated on the back post to stop a Leamington attack.  Knowle were losing their shape somewhat and that left holes for Leamington attacks.  Their best chance of the game fell soon after when Knowle lost possession in a dangerous position and the away side’s midfield picked out a great through ball. The striker placed her shot just wide of the post however, leaving Knowle’s clean sheet intact. The Ladies adjusted to tighten up, and that brought about a brighter spell again.  Rach Keen won the ball with a good tackle and bombed forward to overload the Leamington backline. She slid a pass out to Shaw and continued on for the return on the edge of box before curling a shot that the away team’s keeper saved well. The team in yellow continued to try and break Knowle resistance, but were limited to long range efforts that didn’t prove difficult for Smirthwaite in the main, although she was forced into making one excellent save down to her right to push the ball wide. Substitute Lucy Horsburgh picked up where Wheatstone left off, harassing the Leamington defence and she nearly created a golden opportunity for Camile Abbotts with her pressing, but the defender was able to get back and pinch the ball. Knowle did score their fifth eventually though; and it was Belcher who notched her hat trick, skipping past the defender and firing into the top right corner after tremendous work by Shaw in midfield enabled Abbotts to pick her out Belcher's run. Knowle saw off the last ten minutes of the game confidently and the whistle blew on a 5-0 victory.

Great performance from the team and really pleasing to see all 16 members of the squad play a part. The work rate and football needed to be high quality to beat the only side in the league still with a 100% record, but the squad stepped up in impressive style. Next up is the big FA Cup game against Netherton; 1pm kick off for that away tie. There’s still seats available on the coach if anyone wants to come support the team!

Knowle: Smirthwaite, Keen, Smith, Byrne, Betteridge, Barlow, Gibson, Holland, Belcher, Stanway, Wheatstone.

Subs: Underhill (for Betteridge, 45), Shaw (for Holland, 45), Abbotts (for Barlow, 63) Horsburgh (for Wheatstone, 70), Harris (for Keen, 80)