Knowle progress to Semi-final of the County Cup

Knowle battled hard to beat AFC Somers 2-1 in Saturday’s Quarter-final of the County Cup. The difficult surface made it challenging for Knowle to play their normal silky football but they battled against a strong Somers side that were always a threat on the break and at set pieces.

Knowle started brightly with George Seeley and Charlie Morris testing the home keeper in the first 3 minutes. However, the Somers found their feet and shot just wide after Craig Johnson’s misplaced clearance and also hit wide after their striker turned sharply in the area. Nathan Corry looked as if was due to score as his lob cleared the home keeper but somehow it also bounced just over the bar. The Somers shot stopper then tipped over Jack Mullen’s 25 yard effort. Mullen also headed past the post after the keeper deflected a cross. Then in the 28th minute Mullen picked up the ball in his own half, beat 2 men and played the ball through to George Seeley who successfully lobbed the keeper to give Knowle a deserved lead. Mullen had a great chance to extend the lead but the keeper denied him when he was through 1 on 1. Somers nearly got back on level terms in the 36th minute when they headed just wide from the third of 3 corners in quick succession. So it remained 1-0 to the Robins at the break.

The set piece threat produced an equaliser for the home team in the 52nd minute as they bundled the ball home at the back post from a corner. However, Knowle restored their lead 3 minutes later when Nathan Corry headed home from close range after some head tennis at a corner. Charlie Morris then just missed the target after a sharp one two with Mullen on the edge of the area. Knowle struggled to create another clear cut chance with Seeley, Mullen and Corry all hitting shots high and wide from promising positions. Somers remained a threat from set pieces but Knowle dealt with two late corners well to protect their lead. Reece Staley hit just wide from 25 yards in what turned out to be the last action of the game.

The win makes it 7 in a row as Knowle return to league action away at Coventry Alvis next weekend.