Ladies Weather The Storm at Kidderminster

After a few weeks off, Knowle Ladies were raring to get back out on the pitch; the gale force winds and driving rain they arrived to at Kidderminster Harriers may have dampened those spirits initially, but certainly didn't affect the performance.  Two goals from Demi Rolph and an impressive defensive showing from the whole team earned them a vital 1-2 win.

Stand in captain Sam Smith lost the toss and Knowle found themselves kicking into the considerable wind for the first half, though thankfully the rain has blown away by kick off.   It looked as though the wind would be a decisive player when Kidderminster went ahead as early as the 6th minute - a free kick from out wide was helped on it's way and floated towards the back post.  Jess Jenkinson in the Knowle goal blocked the first attempt, but the ball rebounded to Kiddi winger Izzie Whittick who slotted it home. 

Knowle didn't let the early goal affect their game plan however, and kept a steady shape to defend their penalty area.  Kidderminster kept the ball well but couldn't get behind the Robins, so hit a number of attempts from outside the box which flew off target each time.  In contrast, Knowle were a threat on the break.  Their first chance to equalise fell to Marsha Malik after good work from Natalie Gibson and Nadia Bacciochi  created a shooting chance for the forward, but home keeper Amie Preston was equal to it. She could do nothing about the equaliser that followed soon after however; Katie Adams won possession on the right side and drive forward to combine with Malik.  Her early pass found Demi Rolph racing into the area and the striker's shot took a nick off the defender and nestled in the bottom corner.

Stung by being pegged back, Kidderminster pushed forward once more and Knowle struggled to clear their lines at time with the wind blowing the ball back into their territory.  Rach Keen had to be alert to head clear a dangerous cross, and both Smith and Naomi Henry put in a fine blocks on shots from Kiddi skipper Amber Lawrence.  Another breakaway threatened to give Knowle the lead when Gibson picked up a loose ball and found Adams sprinting down the right side, but her attempt at goal went wide.  Set pieces were a real threat for the home side with both excellent delivery and prowess in the air from the likes of Olivia Lloyd, but Knowle made sure they were first to everything - in particular the ball seemed to be magnetised to Gibson in Knowle's penalty area and she made a number of important clearances.  The Robins had to rely on Jenkinson to stop the most clear cut chance Kiddi had however.  She flew off her line to block Bethany Male's shot and the ball cannoned out to Adams.  She connected well with Bacciochi who strode into the Kidderminster half and set Rolph free again, and the striker did what she does best to skip round Preston and finish well. Knowle held onto that lead in the final seven minutes of the half, and went in 1-2 up.

The rain was back again for the second half, but with the wind at their backs this time, Knowle created a few more chances in that period.  Kidderminster certainly had the lion's share of possession, but simply couldn't break the Knowle backline down.  When they did find space it was out wide, but Lily Phelps repelled everything they could throw at her and a number of crosses were overhit and sailed harmlessly out of the other side of the box. Knowle really should have extended their lead, first through Rolph whose back post header was saved brilliantly by Preston, and then by Gibson who found herself in acres of space in the box but again Preston stuck out a boot and deflected her low finish round the post. Smith's header from the resulting corner was blocked on the line.

Kidderminster came closest when Lara Stevens hit a strong effort, but Jenkinson leapt high to tip it over the post.  An inswinging corner then somehow ricocheted towards goal, but thankfully for Knowle, Gibson was on the line to make the clearance.  At the other end, Malik's quick feet were causing havoc, none more so than when she spun out of trouble well and teed up Bacciochi in the area, but strike flew over the bar.  As the match wore on, Kidderminster continued to dominate the ball and Knowle relied on both Rolph and Bacciochi dropping back to wide positions and protecting either wing.   Knowle had the perfect chance to seal it with five minutes remaining, when Malik found Adams flying down the right side again and played her into the box in space, but the right back placed her shot wide.

The team in blue pulled together and saw out the final stages with a number of clearances.  Kidderminster were inches away from connecting with a free kick late on, but it bounced out of play and Knowle had their victory.  Three more points towards survival, and they were hard earned indeed.

Knowle: Jenkinson, Phelps, Keen, Smith, Henry, Adams, Gibson, Dolphin, Rolph, Malik, Bacciochi. Subs not used: Smallwood, Donnelly.