KLFC Back On Song With Big Win

Easter Sunday was a cracker for Knowle Ladies, who beat Droitwich Spa 7-0 at a sunny Robin’s Nest. Manager Natalie Gibson had a full squad available so was able to rotate the players round to ensure good game time and all sixteen responded well with a superb team performance.

Knowle started strongly, pressing high up the pitch to win possession and then using the width of their wingbacks to good effect to create attacks. Chances came early - Ebony Harris was inches away from connecting with a Morgan Betteridge cross then Demi Rolph teed up Jess Holland but the Droitwich defender blocked well. The away side’s main threat came from utilising the speed of their lone forward down the right side and she did well to break into the box but Maz Byrne covered smartly and the resulting corner led to nothing. Soon after, Rolph hit the post for Knowle after good work from Jess Barlow, then desperate defending from Droitwich stopped Holland once again and Bex Clarke’s follow up flew wide.

On the half hour mark, Knowle rang the changes with all five subs coming on and they made an immediate impact. Clarke sprayed the ball out wide to Betteridge, she drove forward and found Rolph, and her cross was perfectly placed for Nadia Bacciochi to nod home at the back post for her first Knowle goal. Within sixty seconds, it was two nil. Rolph nipped in to cut off a poor back pass, rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net. To Droitwich’s credit, they followed that disappointment by nearly pulling one back – a long ball over the top sent the striker clear but Katy Smirthwaite was quick off her line and blocked her shot allowing Abi Morris to clear. Knowle continued to pile forward despite that scare and with the extra back up from Kate Fleming coming on, Clarke was now running the show in midfield. She set Rolph free out wide and her cut back was met by Holland but the shot was well saved. From the resulting Emma Shaw corner, Sam Smith’s header was blocked on the post and Smith looped the rebound over the bar.

A third goal was coming however, and when it arrived it was a fabulous team move. Smith mopped up another long ball by playing back to Smithwaite, the keeper took a touch and gave it back to the centre half. Smith found Gibson in midfield, and she sent Betteridge flying down the right side. Rolph had a bite at her cross but Droitwich scrambled it clear – only as far as Gibson who casually half volleyed it in off the post from the edge of the box. 

There was no let up for Droitwich in the second half as the home side kept the tempo high despite another round of five subs. Knowle scored their fourth two minutes after the break; Lucy Jones put the full back under severe pressure and won the ball back. She squared it across goal and although the pass was just out the reach of Bacciochi, Fleming raced in and finished from close range. Bacciochi then had a goal chalked off for offside and the Droitwich keeper saved Gibson’s free kick.  

A long ball again set up Droitwich’s best effort of the half, but Smirthwaite blocked once more to keep the clean sheet intact. Excellent cover by Celina Smallwood also stopped their forward in her tracks twice with two fine tackles that were vitally important. Knowle extended their lead to five with fifteen minute still to play; Clarke found a through ball to Shaw who played short to Rolph and her square ball was confidently finished by Barlow. Rolph then picked up her second of the game; player of the match Clarke was instrumental again in the build-up. She combined with Betteridge then slid in Rolph to cut back around the defender and shoot low past the keeper. 

The seventh goal was one that would make even the already extensive personal highlight reel of Gibson; she received a pass from Rolph twenty five yards out and rocketed it into the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance. There was just time in the match for one more chance; Clarke teed up Rolph with a lovely chipped ball but the forward hit her shot wide.  

Knowle were more than happy to settle for seven though, and more importantly the performance was back to their usual high standard. They will be looking to extend that to next week when a big game awaits; a League Cup semi final against Walsall WFC, 2pm kick off at Knowle FC.