LADIES EXTEND THEIR UNBEATEN RUN

A quirk of the fixture list, a kind cup draw and a reversed game next week mean that Knowle Ladies play 6 games in a row at home, so they were happy to start that run with a comfortable win on a balmy October afternoon at the Draintech.

Knowle made a few changes to the line-up thanks to some injury niggles, but the players that came into the side impressed throughout. The home side controlled the game from start to finish, restricting opponents Droitwich to few opportunities and enjoying plenty of chances themselves at the other end of the pitch. Knowle also had the majority of the possession throughout the first half, but were perhaps guilty of overplaying at times, missing the easy ball in favour of trying to play the killer pass. However, when they did get the decision right, they caused plenty of problems for the Droitwich backline and it only took twenty minutes to make one count. Annie Stanway collected the ball from Morgan Betteridge on the right side and danced merrily inside past a couple of defenders, before screwing her left footed shot back across goal and in at the post with the keeper rooted to the spot, expecting to have to shift to the other side. If the first goal was good, then the second was a true belter; Knowle switched play across the pitch again and dragged Droitwich out of shape to leave acres of space on the left. Rachel Keen spotted the gap and barrelled forward from full back and it was the irrepressible Stanway who spotted; rolling a pass out wide into her path. Keen took one touch to set herself, and then crashed her shot into the net from the edge of the box. 

The second half played out in much the same fashion with Knowle in the ascendency; if anything, they improved their passing in the second period and created more chances. The midfield diamond of Jess Barlow, Kate Fleming, Camile Abbotts and Jess Holland were in control of the game. Emma Shaw came on early in the second half and followed suit in the holding role as well as playing in some very dangerous set pieces that the Robins should have capitalised on. Knowle did extend their lead when good play from Poppy Wheatstone and Abbotts allowed Barlow the chance to shoot and she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to notch her first Knowle goal, finishing in style. The fourth was also a fine finish; Stanway played Abbotts through one on one and she calmly slotted in under the keeper to cap a classy and combative player of the match performance. Knowle perhaps should have had more goals, with a couple of clear cut chances missed and the Droitwich keeper making a few good saves. The away side came closest with a free kick that was hit too centrally and a snapshot that Katy Smithwaite got down well to push round the post, but their chances were limited.  

Another good performance from the team; four goals, a clean sheet and chance for different players to impress which they certainly took. Next up for the Ladies is a home game against Kingfisher, 17th October, 2pm kick off. 

Knowle Starting Line Up: Smirthwaite, Keen, Smith, Byrne, Betteridge, Barlow, Fleming, Holland, Abbotts, Stanway, Rolph.

Subs: Wheatstone, Shaw.  Unused: Belcher.

Picture: Camile Abbotts receives her player of the match award from Head Coach Matt Bamber.  This week's awrd was sponsored by The Olive Branch Kitchen - www.3trees.org.uk/olive-branch-kitchen