Knowle get back to winning ways with commanding cup win over Coton Green

Knowle got back to winning ways by securing a commanding 2-0 victory over nine-man Coton Green in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

Talib Copeland swooped in to open the scoring before Hayden Purves capitalised on a defensive error to double his team’s advantage later in the first half.

Knowle played with a swagger about them and, once the first goal went in, never looked likely to give up their place in the last 32 on a night where both Kyle Batchelor and Louie O’Connor were sent off for Coton.

The game’s first meaningful chance fell to Purves three minutes in. A long throw was recycled on the left-wing and the ball dropped invitingly for the winger in the penalty area. Coton goalkeeper James Behan got down low to his left and parried Purves’ fierce drive out of harm’s way.

Coton’s physicality helped them into the contest after that chance but Sonny Sheasby struck the outside of the left-hand post in the 16th minute. The striker was intelligently slipped in down the left channel and almost converted from a very tight angle.

Sheasby was in the action again almost immediately and created the opening goal for Copeland. He set up a one-vs-one between Copeland and Behan with a sumptuous ball in behind Coton's defence, and the in-form attacker was never going to be stopped from firing Knowle into a deserved lead.

Knowle had got into their groove and it wasn’t long before the other post denied Sheasby. He combined well with Purves down the right before stabbing an effort against the right-hand post which subsequently went out for a goal-kick.

Raking balls from Matt Horton are a feature in the goalkeeper’s player profile and Knowle’s multi-skilled stopper produced another one eight minutes from half-time. Aided by severe misjudgment from Coton defender Mason Perry, Horton’s long goal-kick went all the way through to Purves and the tricky winger finished superbly with his laces.

Emotions had been threatening to boil over for a while and they finally did on the hour. Coton captain Batchelor was given a straight red card after an altercation with Sheasby. There were appeals from the crowd that O’Connor should have sent off instead but referee Thomas Cusworth stuck by his original decision.

Knowle almost capitalised on the extra man advantage within two minutes. Sheasby’s downward header looked destined for the bottom-right corner after a threatening cross from the left wing, but Coton did just enough to spare themselves further frustration.

However, Coton’s night went from bad to worse when O’Connor was dismissed with 17 minutes to play. He was clearly frustrated with how the game was panning out and showed his emotion a little too much for Cusworth’s liking. O’Connor, already on a booking, kicked the ball away and Cusworth showed the midfielder a second yellow card before ordering him off the pitch.

Knowle saw the game out with profession in the closing stages and can take confidence from their performance on a night where they snapped their two-game run without a win.

The Robins' opponents in the last 32 are not yet known, with the draw to take place once all First Round fixtures have been played.