Mullen & Craine Combine to Down Littleton
30th September 2023: Littleton 0-6 Knowle
Knowle travelled to the heart of the Worcestershire countryside for this fixture. Five Acres is a pleasant ground, and well appointed.
We are now just one third of the way through this season. Knowle sit in top spot having conceded just six goals, and none away from home. In the process, they have scored thirty goals.
Matches where top verses bottom are not always as straightforward as one might think. However, the Robins were in total control from the very first whistle until the last. The home side were unable to manage a single shot on, or off, target. Every one of the fifteen players wearing the Robin’s away blue shirt, were superb, hard-working, and highly skilled. In mid-field especially, their dominance was most apparent.
Littleton are a young side, who never lost their shape, or gave up. But the stark truth is they were just not up to the required standard.
It took just seventeen minutes for the Robins to open the scoring. A spell of ‘ping-pong’ in midfield allowed Tom Craine to round the goalkeeper, beat the defender and tap home. Ten minutes later the lead had doubled. Knowle attacked on their left, the cross gave Mullen the chance, which he took with glee. Another ten minutes had elapsed when a defensive mix-up gave Tom Craine the opportunity to double his tally, and make his side’s tally up to three goals.
Although Littleton made a change after the break, it made little difference. Knowle continued to run the show. Lewis Clarke scored a beautiful goal at the back post. Jack Mullen got a second when he benefitted from a perfect cross by Nathan Corry. However, the icing on the cake was a splendid effort from distance by ‘Man of the Match’ Toby Scott. The ball had hit the net before the goalkeeper had moved.
This was a comprehensive victory and the scoreline reflected just how superior the away side were.
Knowle FC: Johnson; Taylor; Staley (Manning); Clarke [62]; Shaw; Bennett (O’Donnell); Mullen [25 & 77]; Scott [89]; Rendell; G Seeley © (Riddiford); Craine [17 & 36] (Corry).
