Knowle Ladies Fall Short at Sphinx

A goal in either half condemned Knowle Ladies to their first league defeat of the season on Sunday as Coventry Sphinx ran out 2-0 winners in the top of the table clash. With both sides winning ten from ten in the league prior to this game, it was an intriguing clash that rested on fine margins.

Sphinx went ahead as early as the seventh minute, converting the first attempt on goal in the match. A breakdown in midfield led to them piling forward and the ball was played through for Kirsty Farnsworth to race onto. Katy Smirthwaite came out of goal to try to clear, but fell awkwardly, leaving Farnsworth to roll into an empty net and Smirthwaite down for treatment. The keeper tried to carry on, but had to limp off soon after. Midfielder Bex Clarke bravely volunteered to don the gloves but it forced Knowle into a reshuffle with Alana White entering the fray up top and Jess Barlow dropping back to the centre.

The changes rattled Knowle's belief somewhat and it took them a while to find their feet. Sphinx went close with a free kick that flew just wide of the post, and Maz Byrne and Morgan Betteridge both got vital challenges in to stop other promising attacks. The midfield battleground was fierce, with both sides putting in robust challenges and it was difficult for either side to get a clear sight of goal. The home side went close again when the high press created a shooting chance for Jodie McGuckin, but her attempt cannoned back off the bar. For the last ten minutes of the half, Knowle were back in their groove and started the threaten, two Natalie Gibson free kicks were cleared by the Sphinx defence, and Barlow’s attempt from the edge of box was straight at the keeper. Knowle’s best chance fell to Jess Holland, good work from Demi Rolph set her free in the box, but the Coventry keeper blocked the shot well with her feet. The score line therefore stayed at 1-0 when the halftime whistle blew. In truth, Sphinx had had the better of that first period and Knowle will have been pleased that the game was still finely poised.

Knowle offered more of an attacking threat in the second half, using their width to get forward. Betteridge produced an overlapping run early on which caused chaos and finished with an important clearance from Sphinx defender Amanda Whalley. Most of the action was still in the centre of the pitch, and when Sphinx did get forward they found Knowle’s player of the match Byrne in fine form, winning challenge after challenge. Both sides used set pieces as a way to threaten; Clarke got a hand to a header to push it onto the post to save Knowle from going further behind, and at the opposite end, Holland’s header was cleared off the line by Leonna McCook. Clarke was also able to drop on a loose ball amongst flying feet to prevent a scrambled goal. In search of an equaliser, Knowle upped the pressure and the Coventry keeper had to react smartly to tip long range efforts from Gibson and Emma Shaw. With three minutes left, the Robins were then hit with a sucker punch that killed off their hopes of taking a point; Sphinx broke clear down the right and Angel Scandrett was able to slot past Clarke.

A tough game that ended in disappointment for Knowle, but Coventry Sphinx used all their experience to deservedly shade it in the end. Next up for Knowle is an even tougher County Cup tie against Wolves Women, then it’s the return game against Sphinx!

Knowle: Smirthwaite (White, 15), Shaw, Smith, Byrne, Betteridge, Clarke, Gibson, Fleming, Rolph, Holland, Barlow.

Unused subs: Morris, Smallwood, Harris.