Knowle perfect five-star opening with dramatic win at Rugby Town

Talib Copeland showed his class once more as Knowle made it five wins from their first five matches at Step Five level with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Rugby Town on Saturday afternoon.

It looked as though Knowle were facing their first draw of the campaign - which wouldn’t have been a bad result in the slightest away at recently relegated Rugby - until Copeland found the net in style when time was running thin.

The Robins had already won their first four league games following back-to-back promotions - and progressed on two cup fronts - before arriving at Butlin Road, and their fairytale start to life in Step Five didn’t end there.

Jack Duggan headed home a 12th-minute corner to give Knowle a deserved lead before Rugby skipper Jake Wormleighton levelled proceedings in the second half.

But Copeland popped up with a piece of solo brilliance late on to ensure Knowle took maximum points back to B93.

The Robins have joined high-flying duo Atherstone Town and Desborough Town as the only clubs in the United Counties Premier South to win their first five league matches.

Tricky forward Copeland was a thorn in Rugby’s side early on and he was taken out by right-back Wormleighton after four minutes. Toby Scott whipped the resulting free-kick into the box but Odane Barnes couldn’t quite direct his header on target.

But Knowle did manage to convert a set piece eight minutes later and Duggan was the scorer. Hayden Purves swung in a corner from the left and Duggan was there to flick beyond Rugby stopper Ash Bodycote and into the bottom-right corner.

Neat link-up between Copeland and Purves almost crafted an acrobatic second in the 19th minute. The former weaved his way through two Rugby players before feeding Purves. The right-winger then returned the ball to Copeland with a lofted ball inside, and the forward’s bicycle kick went just over the crossbar.

The rain grew heavier as the half progressed and the playing surface became rather slippy, affording the game to open up. Both sides had half-chances, while Rugby saw a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away when Aaron Nuttall was floored in the box and a curling effort from Sam Tye was later hacked away by Duggan.

Purves should have doubled Knowle’s lead with the first half’s final action. George Seeley played him in with a long ball forward and, even despite having home defender Ryley Nicholson for company, Purves should have hit the target. He blazed over.

While Knowle didn’t have a two-goal cushion to carry into the rest of the game, they were on top and it was a positive half.

Knowle began the second half in the same attack-minded vein - but momentum soon shifted and Rugby drew level via a set piece of their own. Wormleighton beat Copeland to Stephan Morley’s left-wing corner and found the top corner from close range.

And they almost scored again a minute later when Nuttall jinked past Connor Mort down Knowle's right and smashed a shot against the crossbar from an unforgiving angle.

The game had sprung into life and Seeley soon forced Bodycote into action at the other end. His low drive from 18 yards was beaten away by the goalkeeper.

Matt Horton was the next in either goal to be tested. Rivel Mardenborough intelligently beat the offside trap and powered a strike to Horton’s left. He just about got rid.

Morley almost gave Rugby the lead in magnificent fashion. His curling free-kick from 25 yards out was destined for the top corner and Horton darted left to keep it out.

Copeland has come up with a moment of magic on numerous occasions in recent months and he produced another one to put Knowle back in front with 10 minutes to play. He slalomed down the left and nutmegged Nicholson before finding the corner with superb composure.

That was Copeland’s eighth goal of the season across competitions - despite us still being in August - and Knowle dug deep in a feisty closure to seal the points.

It's a tight turnaround for Knowle now, as they prepare to host Lutterworth Town on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31 (3pm).

Knowle will then welcome national broadcasters BBC to The Robins’ Nest next Saturday, September 5, where they entertain Step Three side Worcester City in a bumper FA Cup first round qualifying tie (12:30pm).

Worcester famously beat Liverpool 2-1 en route to reaching the fourth round proper in 1958/59, and astonishingly are fresh from back-to-back promotions themselves, so it’s no surprise that the BBC have picked this one out. It promises to be a cracker.