Knowle Jump Into Second With Another Win Over Copsewood

George Revell reports as three first-half goals sink the visitors…

Knowle leapfrogged Sutton United into second place with an impressive 3-0 win over Coventry Copsewood in treacherous conditions under the lights at the Draintech Community Stadium on Armistice Day.

Quick-fire goals from Connor Mort and George Seeley set the Robins on their way before Callum Scott added another in the 33rd minute to ensure Knowle would extend their winning streak to 13 league matches.

The pitch was deemed playable in the hours leading up to kick-off, but the rain really started to pour as the players wrapped up their warm-ups with 15 minutes to go - and that made things a whole lot more difficult for both sides.

Those who made the ultimate sacrifice were remembered with an impeccably observed minute’s silence before Copsewood got the game underway in torrential rain.

Truth be told, it was quite an even first quarter-hour with few moments of note at either end, but the game started to open up after that - and Knowle found the breakthrough 17 minutes in. Brady Floyd was brought down in the box and Mort wasted no time rifling the spot-kick into the top-right corner.

Copsewood looked disheartened after the opener and Knowle made them pay just two minutes later. Talib Copeland raced down the right before teeing up top scorer Seeley to stab home his 14th goal of the season.

Knowle continued to play on the front foot despite their two-goal lead and added a third 12 minutes before half-time. Floyd neatly played Scott into a one-on-one with Manuel, and the midfielder stayed cool to slot home on his return to the XI.

For the away side, former Robin Taylor Blythe turned away from goalscorer Scott and unleashed an audacious effort from 30 yards before the interval, but it was never going to trouble Matt Horton in the Knowle goal.

Knowle got the game back underway after half-time, and although it might not have appeared it, by then the pitch was in far worse shape than just a couple of hours earlier.

Experienced defender Jack Duggan lost his footing on the rain-soaked surface two minutes after the restart - not one of the 156 in attendance could blame him - and had it not been for a great block from Mort, Copsewood substitute Sam Ellis might have had a glimpse of goal.

Another Copsewood sub, Paddy McCroray, fired a free-kick just over the bar midway through the second half, while Robins sub Owain Taylor almost added a fourth late on after some neat play following a throw-in.

Ultimately, though, Knowle managed the game superbly once again - securing a fourth win over the Copses this season in extremely difficult conditions. That’s a hallmark of promotion-winning teams.

We are undoubtedly in the midst of some very exciting times in B93.