Ladies Stumble to Victory

Despite putting another three points on the board with a 2-3 win away at Westfields, there was a definite feeling after this game that Knowle had got away with one. The performance was sloppy to say the least and the team struggled to showcase the qualities that have been so apparent in previous games.

It had all started so brightly for the Robins however, racing away from kick off to earn a corner in the first minute and moving the ball confidently in the early stages of the game. They showed no signs of lethargy from the long journey and they attacked well. The first chance came when Annie Stanway pulled a good save from the goalkeeper with a shot from the edge of the box, and Westfields were forced to defend stoutly to keep Knowle out. The away side went ahead with only eight minutes on the clock; Alice Belcher refused to give up on a Jess Holland long ball that looked like it may run too far and managed to knock it past the advancing keeper. The ball struck the post, but Belcher followed in and tapped home the rebound. Knowle doubled their lead two minutes later; this time it was Demi Rolph providing the finish after Jess Barlow and Camile Abbotts combined to set her up. 

In response, Westfields rolled their sleeves up at the back and set a deep line to successfully stop Knowle getting in behind. They also tried to push forward themselves and were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position following a clear foul. The shot was on target, but Katy Smirthwaite caught it cleanly. Knowle’s next opportunity came after they worked the ball down the left side to Morgan Betteridge; she let fly with a great attempt but got the post and the rebound was cleared. Soon after, Rolph skipped through two challenges out wide on the right and crossed into Belcher, but she clipped her close range attempt over the bar. Emma Shaw and Betteridge linked up well on the left for the full back to cross into the box, but the ball somehow evaded everyone and bounced harmlessly wide. After all that, Knowle seemed to lose their impetus and the game became a disjointed affair. The Robins could not keep the ball and either rushed their passes or tried to dribble out of trouble only to get caught by good tackling from the opposition. They perhaps could have conceded after losing possession when out of shape, but Holland rescued her team by putting in a fine block on the edge of the box. The first half petered out without much more action, though Poppy Wheatstone went close for the Robins late on with a shot that the Westfields keeper saved well.

Knowle were hoping to get back on track in the second half, but in truth they looked even more laboured after the break. The match was scrappy with neither side keeping possession well, though Westfields did produce a good move that almost sent their forward clear, but Maz Byrne was quick on the recovery tackle. Rach Keen also had to mop up trouble when a missed clearance bounced through towards the penalty area. Knowle’s first chance of the half was created by Stanway sliding Rolph through into the area, but the Westfields keeper came out to block, injuring herself in the process. Belcher and Rolph were the players trying to drive Knowle forward, the two were certainly Knowle’s best performers on the day, and the former hit a fierce shot over the bar after beating a couple of players. Knowle hadn’t got their shape right though, and gaps were appearing which Westfield exploited well to score their first goal of the game, the left winger in acres of space at the back post and firing her shot past Smirthwaite. Lucy Horsburgh was finding opportunities to get free on the right wing; on one occasion her cross found Wheatstone but the keeper saved well. Rolph also forced the goalkeeper into a good save from her dipping free kick. The young forward earned her player of the match accolade on 77 minutes when she scored her second of the game, driving into through the heart of Westfields defence and smashing her shot through the keeper. The home side came back strongly once again, regularly winning the ball off Knowle players and carrying it forward to attack the Robins’ defence. They pulled another goal back late on from one such attack, the midfielder standing strong to win a tackle before working it sideways to her midfielder partner. A chasm had opened up on Knowle’s right side and the Westfields player spotted it immediately and played the ball in; Smirthwaite was caught in no-mans and the left winger raced in to slot it into goal for her second of the game too. Knowle were able to see out the last few minutes though and the final whistle gave them the win that they had nearly thrown away.

It wasn’t all Knowle apathy though, to their credit Westfields defended very well and worked tirelessly all game, despite only having eleven available. They were organised and determined, two qualities that Knowle certainly lacked on the day. Several lessons for the team to take away ahead of next week’s clash with Rugby Borough.

Knowle: Smirthwaite, Shaw, Keen, Smith, Holland, Barlow, Abbotts, Stanway, Betteridge, Belcher, Rolph.

Subs: Wheatstone (for Rolph, 30), Harris (for Betteridge, 30,) Byrne (for Smith, 45), Horsburgh (for Holland, 68).

Photos courtesy of Helen Warwick - https://twitter.com/HelenWarwick5

1 - Morgan Betteridge holds off a defender

2 - Lucy Horsburgh attacks down the wing