HONOURS EVEN AT THE DRAINTECH

I suspect that both managers would have settled, prior to kick-off, for a point each. As it turned out, this match was as close as the score-line suggests.

The Robins were without George Curry and Dylon Bennett, then to make matters worse, Captain Lewis Cosgrove broke down during the warm-up. In these circumstances. Manager Clive Seeley thought it a point won. He was more than satisfied with the performance of his charges.

Both these sides are among the front-runners in Division Two of the Midland Football League, it was third playing fourth. There was a sense of excitement around the Draintech Community Ground as we all gathered for the encounter. The only disappointment was the pouring rain that obviously kept many spectators away.

It was Knowle who were to take the game by the scruff of the neck right from the first whistle. For thirty minutes they were the better side. Indeed the men in red and black would have been ahead by then, but for some slack finishing. Even so, they kept their opponents at arms length. That is, until the thirty second minute. Athletic appeared to get away with a foul in mid-field, and they took full advantage by moving the ball out to their right flank, the cross was inch perfect leaving Thomas CRAINE a simple tap-in. It was cruel on the home side, as it was the visitors first meaningful attempt on target.

The goal encouraged Athletic. It also spurred on the home side, that often led to rushed passing, and even panic. One felt the atmosphere heat up as we approached half-time, and there were one or two rather shape tackles.

Right from the re-start Athletic’s McGinn hit the inside of the Knowle goal-post. Miraculously, the ball rebounded into Jack Tregatha’s arms. He bowled the ball out Knowle turned defence into attack with Cullen hitting the Athletic’s cross-bar!

Knowle were hunting for that equalizer. They had increased the pace and pressed forward at every chance. With the clock showing fifty-eight minutes, Thomas Craine was showed a second yellow card and the inevitable red followed. Surely this was a gift to the home side?

Strangely Athletic were the dominant party after going down to ten men. Nevertheless Knowle were not to be denied. With fifteen minutes to go, a cross from the left was turned home by Tom CULLEN to bring the scores level. It was no less than Knowle deserved. Yet it was the way Athletic saw out the remaining minutes to keep their point that was impressive.

After the match I was chatting to the players of both teams. The Athletic players felt they would have won had they kept eleven men on the park, while the Knowle players thought they would have won had Athletic had eleven men until the end!

Knowle FC: Tregatha; Cullen [75]; Delaney ©; Andrews (Dodd); Fox (Payne); McArdle; Seeley (Blake); Hague; Corry; Morris. Sub not used: Cosgrove.

Knowle FC Next Match - Saturday 9th October 2021: Knowle FC v Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons FC. KO 1500.