Knowle Bring Back Three Points From Bournville

Dave Sykes reports from Cadbury Recreation Ground

What an iconic venue for a grass roots football match Cadburys is, with the Mock Tudor changing rooms and lovely old church bell chiming a deep tone every 15 minutes. Put this together with the backdrop of the huge chocolate factory and we were all licking our lips at the prospect of the game ahead.

Good to see Lewis Rainey start at left back after an injury lay off, but rather worrying that Ricardo Dudley was missing from the heart of the Knowle defence. The Robins fans need not have worried as Knowle flew out of the blocks and created several opportunities within the first 10 minutes. Nathan Corry was really showing up well and excelled with two peaches of crosses that really ought to have resulted in goals. Corry linked well with Zak Parsons who very nearly scored when he cut across the ball to send it swerving viciously past the post. Zak’s trickery and Odane Barnes' incredible power were too much for the Cadbury side and tackles were flying in. One challenge resulted in Corry having to be substituted after half an hour.

George Seeley came on and immediately set Hayden up for two wonderful jinking runs but neither final ball could be put away. Not much was seen from the Cadbury attack and then Knowle upped their game. Four driving runs and shots at the Cadbury goal caused mayhem in the defensive ranks which finished with Callum Scott thumping the ball into the bottom corner for a very classy goal. Shortly after the goal Callum’s brother Toby was hit in the face by the ball and the referee waved ‘play on’ as blood seemed to be everywhere. Physio Dave Morrow wasn’t on the same wave length as the ref and gave his opinion about what ‘should’ have happened and duly shown the yellow card! 

After half time, Knowle now looked more determined than ever, the sizeable red contingent in the crowd made themselves heard when Hayden Purves, Seeley and Barnes pinged the ball about until it appeared at Parson’s feet. He nonchalantly passed it into the goal with no one else near him! This stirred the Cadbury lads who proceeded to dominate for at least 10 minutes and then the unthinkable happened. Knowle conceded a goal! Only the 4th one this season. It was coming as it had taken a couple of smart saves from Craig Johnson to keep them out a few minutes earlier. Knowle from that point on controlled the game. The Scotts in midfield were outstanding, as was stand in centre back Joe Cervantes who settled in next to the immense Lewis Clarke brilliantly.     

Callum Burston-Keeley loves to come on for twenty minutes at the end when the defences are tired and just go for it. His third attempt was set up by Toby Scott and the pacey forward just put on the after-burners and went one on one with the keeper. He smashed the ball so it hit one post, shot across to the other post then bounced high into the net. Off he goes to the corner flag, pulls the flag out and does a golf swing at a golf ball! Knowle had secured their 3 points! 

KNOWLE: Johnson; Rainey; Clarke; Cervantes; Powell; Corry; Callum Scott; Toby Scott; Purves; Barnes. SUBS. Seeley; Riddiford; Hague: Stones; Burston-Keeley & Slater;