Knowle Dent Rangers Perfect Home Start

Ronald Crane reports from Mitchell Avenue

For the second week running, The Robins were involved in the Match of the Day in MFL Division Two with 2nd playing 3rd. Rangers had played four home matches so far this season, winning all four.  For the spectators, especially the neutrals, this was a real football match. The best MFL spectacle I have seen this season so far. Both sides were going for the win from start to finish. And, if there were less attempts on target than one would think, it was a real match in every sense of the word. The standard was far higher than the tag “Recreational” would suggest.

The Robins were well on top during a pulsating first forty-five minutes, and with Nathan Corry re-signing, goals were the priority. Yet although there was plenty of goal-mouth action, and rather a lot of ‘pinball’ in the Rangers Area, the only goal was a well taken Penalty by the impressive OWEN WARD four minutes from Half-Time.  Ward and Bennett controlled the mid-field and provided Corry – Robins Man of the Match – with plenty of service. Yet for whatever reason more goals just would not come.

As with many matches this season, the Second-Half was a different kettle of fish altogether. It was fifty/fifty at best, with Rangers far more in the game. Consequently, Corry’s service dried up. Jack Mullen had arrived for the second period and his work-rate was phenomenal. At the back Lewis Cosgrove and company were solid until one lapse 13 minutes from time when Rangers cut them open like a can of sardines. Having been pulled out of shape, a wonderful cross from the right was beautifully glanced home by JORDAN POWELL to equalize the score.

The home side now smelt blood and went in search of the winner. Only a wonderful point-blank save by Craig Johnson and lovely last-ditch tackle from Captain Lewis Cosgrove saved the game, ending all square.

Talk in the Club House afterwards that a draw was a fair result, but truth to tell, and not for the first time this season, The Robins ought to have been out of sight by the break.  Nevertheless, the match was an excellent advertisement form MFL Division two football, surely the highest standard outside the MFL Premier Division?

The Robins now have a two week break from League action. On Saturday 15th October they are away at PS Olympic of the West Midlands Regional League Division Two, in the Saturday Vase. While on Saturday 22nd October they entertain Sutton Rangers, of MFL D 3, in the Les James League Cup at The Draintech Community Stadium.

Knowle FC: Johnson; Rainey; Staley; McArdle; Cosgrove ©; Ward [p41] (Mason); Yasin Al Massry (Mullen); Bennett; Corry; Seeley (Jones); Hewitt. Subs not used: Weeks, and Walton.

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Sat 15th Oct – PS Olympic 1st v Knowle FC: Sat Vase :KO 1500

  At: The Dell Stadium, Bryce Road, Brierley Hill, DY5 4NE

Sat 22nd Oct – Knowle FC v Sutton Rangers: Les James Cup :KO 1500

Photos courtesy of Peter Ray