Ladies Go Through in FA Cup

After last week’s torrential weather caused this FA Cup tie to be postponed, Knowle Ladies arrived in Bromsgrove to a complete contrast; fine weather and a great venue to play football. They certainly enjoyed themselves in the early stages of the game, looking a real threat in attack. Indeed, the match was only three minutes old when Trina Greaves out muscled her defender to latch onto Nadia Bacciochi’s ball, but her low shot bounced back off the inside of the post and out to safety. Knowle’s midfield were well on top, winning every first ball and the majority of seconds. Kate Fleming, Natalie Gibson and Jess Barlow made sure Bromsgrove found it difficult to get out of their own half, with the exception of some mazy runs by the number ten. The trio also combined well in possession, keeping the ball well and switching it across the pitch into space.



However, The Robins were perhaps guilty of not quite executing their final ball well enough to turn that possession into clear cut chances, with a couple of square balls going awry when forwards were clean through. Fleming did find Demi Rolph in the centre of goal, but her shot slid wide of the post and then Gibson hit a shot over the bar when gathering the resulting goal kick. Knowle were then left cursing the goalpost once more when Barlow turned the ball into Bacciochi’s path on the edge of box and her curling shot cannoned back off the same upright Greaves had found earlier. The Bromsgrove keeper then made a superb save to claw out Rolph’s volley after the forward met Bacciochi’s cross.

It felt like the goal was coming and so it proved on 35 minutes with Knowle’s best move of the game. The back line kept possession well, working the ball from Katie Atter at left back through centre halves Sam Smith and Molly Hughes before the latter fed Barlow who had ghosted into space between the lines. The quality of Barlow’s final pass matched her movement, and Rolph made no mistake running onto the ball and sliding her finish past the keeper.

Knowle couldn’t press home their advantage however, and just before halftime Bromsgrove were back on level terms. A good move down the right side found the number ten in space on the edge of the box and her shot squirmed under Jess Jenkinson in the Knowle goal. 1-1 at the break, and Knowle had to squash their disappointment in conceding from the oppositions only shot of the half to build themselves back up for the second period.

Bromsgrove were certainly buoyed by their goal, and were able to pose much more of a threat in the second half, but thankfully for the Knowle spectators, their side also stepped up in the attacking third. Passes from Fleming and Greaves sent Rolph in twice in the early stages; the keeper saved her first attempt but not thirty seconds after she was sent sprawling in the box by a defender’s late tackle. Rolph picked herself and hit a fantastic penalty to give Knowle the lead again.

The away side had Jenkinson to thank for maintaining that lead when she made superb one on one save after the Bromsgrove forward slipped through the Knowle backline and the keeper was alert to grab the rebound also. Bromsgrove knew they had to throw caution to the wind and changed formation to put another body in attack, but this also gave Knowle more space to work in.

The next chance fell to Bacciochi after fine work from Barlow and Greaves, but her shot didn’t have the power to trouble the home keeper, then shots from Greaves and Gibson flew off target. Knowle’s defence stood firm at the opposite end, pushing Bromsgrove attackers wide and only giving them partial sights of goal which also ended in off target shots. Rolph then had the ball in the back of the net after collecting Morgan Betteridge’s pass, but it was ruled out for a tight offside.

As time ticked on, Bromsgrove continued to press for the all important equaliser but their attacks came to nothing as Knowle managed the game well. Rolph pulled another fine save out the home side’s keeper, the Sophie Noakes blazed a shot over the bar after being set up by Barlow and Nellie Severin. Knowle spent the final minutes of the game repelling Bromsgrove attacks and dealing with the defender who had moved up front. It may not have been easy on the eye, but the Robins backline were able to stop any attempts on goal and clear their lines time and time again, before the final whistle blew to send them through to the next round!

A trip to Sleaford in Lincolnshire awaits Knowle next in the FA Cup, but they will play league leaders Shifnal Town away next week firstly.

Knowle: Jenkinson, Betteridge, Hughes, Smith, Atter (Phelps 70), Barlow, Gibson, Fleming, Bacciochi (Noakes 65), Rolph (Severin 75), Greaves. Unused subs: Donnelly, Balder, Byrne.