Knowle On Top Form Against Bewdley Town

After a week of wild weather, Knowle Ladies were pleased that Bewdley Town’s pitch had stood up well and the game was on. They made the most of the good fortune and thoroughly enjoyed themselves in a 2-6 win.

Knowle started the match strongly, with Jess Barlow and Alana White combining well to attack down the right side and get balls into the box. The forwards couldn’t quite capitalise however, and the Bewdley keeper marshalled her six yard box well. The Robins weren’t to be denied for too long though, and they went ahead with only eight minutes on the clock. Bex Clarke positioned herself well to pick up a loose ball and slip Kate Fleming into space so her fellow midfielder had time to look up and find a through ball to Demi Rolph. The number nine raced in and slotted her attempt under Bewdley’s keeper for a 0-1 lead.

Knowle’s second was a prime example of playing through the thirds; from their own goal kick, Sam Smith played forward to Clarke, she pivoted and passed into Gibson who did the exact same movement before sliding a great ball through to Rolph. She skipped round the keeper this time before placing a left footed shot into the net. Knowle were well on top now, and went close a couple more times. Gibson thundered a shot off the bar, Clarke hit a long range attempt with and Alana White was inches away from a tap in from Rolph’s square ball. White then had a hand in her team’s third goal; she wriggled out of a challenge on the edge of the box and flicked the ball to Gibson. The goalkeeper saved the gaffer’s shot, but Barlow showed superb determination to beat the defender to the rebound and slot home. 

Bewdley were only able to make sporadic forays into Knowle territory in that first half, and were soon shut down by the Knowle back three of Smith, Maz Byrne and Celina Smallwood. Their best attempt was created by the skipper’s through ball, but Byrne had the striker covered and Smith was able to block when she turned back inside. At the other end, Knowle had their fourth goal before halftime; Gibson and Barlow combined with a one two, before Gibson chipped her pass into Fleming who had perfectly time her run into the box. She poked her finish under the keeper and put her side 0-4 up.

At halftime, Camile Abbotts and Abi Morris joined the fray and both were involved early on. Abbotts set up Rolph for a snapshot that the keeper pushed wide and Morris hit a free kick that caused issues in the Bewdley penalty area. Bewdley’s substitutes also made a difference however, and they were able to cause more problems in the Knowle defensive third. Katy Smirthwaite had to produce a smart one handed save to palm away one effort and then drop on the rebound, and another shot bounced wide. The Robins always looked likely to extend their lead however. Emma Shaw forced a good save from the keeper, then fancy footwork from White allowed Clarke to cross for Rolph, but she couldn’t connect with the header. Knowle’s fifth was a well worked goal; Byrne teed up White out wide and her back post cross was perfect for Abbotts to volley home.

Fellow substitute Morris switched position to right back and was soon busy; she won the ball on the halfway line and her clearance fell to Gibson. Her shot was blocked, so she dinked the rebound into Rolph who lofted it over the keeper and tapped in to complete her hat-trick. At 0-6, Knowle were in control, but it was actually Bewdley who finished the game stronger. They were awarded a penalty with twenty minutes left when a ricochet was adjudged to have hit Clarke’s arm, but Smithwaite pulled out a good save to her left side.

The home side wasn’t to be denied however, and pulled two goals back in the latter stages. Sarah Lojko found space in the penalty area to fire past Smirthwaite, and Kirsty Roberts outmuscled the Knowle defenders to score soon after. Bewdley also saw a good chance go begging when the striker’s shot flew wide after good build up play.

Knowle took the decision to shut up shop and see the game out, leaving the final score 2-6 in their favour. The football played in that first half in particular was superb, and the team will look to replicate that next week away against Long Itchington in another league fixture.

Knowle: Smirthwaite, Smallwood, Smith, Byrne, Shaw, Fleming, Clarke, Barlow, Rolph (Abbotts, 45), Gibson (Morris, 45), White.

Photos (C) of Nick Goodwin, Sportspics