Knowle open FA Vase campaign with hard-fought win at Stourport Swifts
George Revell reports...
Knowle got their FA Vase campaign up and running as they fought hard to a 2-1 victory in a chaotic first round qualifying tie at Stourport Swifts.
It looked as though the well-contested tie was heading to penalties when Swifts striker Bruce Minaker buried a 73rd-minute spot-kick to cancel out Odane Barnes’ earlier header.
But Knowle won a penalty of their own with 12 minutes to play and Hayden Purves gave the eyes to Swifts stopper Charlie McNamara before finding the corner with composure.
The Robins held firm in the closing stages and will host fellow Step Five side Ashby Ivanhoe in the second round qualifying at 3pm on Saturday, September 12.
Liam Wilson, who was a free agent before joining Knowle just days before the tie, was forced off through injury six minutes in. Wilson won’t have visualised disaster striking that early on his debut and Anton Powell was summoned to replace the full-back.
It wasn’t until midway through the second half that either team prompted a gasp from the crowd to signify a genuine scoring opportunity but Knowle took full advantage when it finally came. Imposing forward Barnes headed in off the post just two minutes after coming on.
But Stourport drew level five minutes later when winger Erik Savkin was felled in the box. On-loan Kidderminster Harriers man Minaker remained cool and dispatched past Matt Horton to level the game.
Knowle had to dig deep and they won a penalty of their own in the 78th minute. Purves stepped up from 12 yards to give Knowle the lead and the Robins shut up shop in the closing stages to secure safe passage to the second round qualifying.
“It was a game of few chances with both sides playing fairly direct,” Knowle joint-manager Clive Seeley said post-match.
“We managed to restrict them to one chance first half and two in the second. We got on top in the second half and deserved to take the lead through Odane, who had only just come on when he scored.”
He added: “It wasn’t a classic but a well deserved win.”
Next up for Knowle is a return to league action against Coton Green on Tuesday, August 18, with kick-off at 7:45pm at New Mill Lane.
