Mullen's Brace Sinks United

Ronald Crane reports from The Draintech Community Ground

Prior to this match kicking off, celebrations were in order for Craig Johnson who made his one hundredth appearance for the Robins. Afterwards it was celebrations for all the Robins, after securing their twelfth straight win.

As it turned out, Johnson will have had fewer easier matches in that century, as United could not manage a single shot on target...or even off, for that matter. The Robins were well below par, without George Seeley, Nathan Corry and Hayden Seymour who were all unavailable. Yet they were still far too good for a disappointing United side rooted near the bottom two of Division Two.

Outplayed and out-thought United may have been, but they never gave up and kept going right to the end. Somehow the Robins never really got going, but did not surrender mid-field to their opponents where Staley and Bennett ruled. Up front, Jack Mullen was well fed with long-range balls from McArdle and Sinton. Their accuracy played right into the forwards hands – or to be exact, feet. Knowle took the lead on five minutes when Mullen benefited from a poor back pass from the left, to round the keeper and give himself a simple tap-in. On the half-hour, a lovely long ball was met by the front runner, who beat his man and ‘keeper to double the score.

For the rest of the match, there is very little to say. The second half was a non-event ,with United unable to manage an attack, and Knowle content to hold what they had. Robin’s management team of Clive and Matthew Seeley will want far more from their charges when facing Inkberrow next Saturday.

After the match, Clive Seeley told me, “Disappointed in our performance, yet pleased with the result.”

That result leaves The Robins in third place in Division Two, some eleven points behind leaders Sutton United, but with five matches in hand. The Robins still have to welcome second placed Cadbury Athletic, and fourth placed AFC Coventry Rangers to Hampton Road, so there is everything to play for. The fight for honours in MFL Division Two is as tight as it can be.

Knowle FC: 

Johnson; Sinton (Ricketts); Rainey; Clarke; McArdle ©; Bennett; Morris (Walton); Staley; Mullen [5 & 30]; Blythe (Bailey); O'Neil-Martin, (Jones). Sub not used: Burston-Keeley.

Forthcoming Fixtures:

SAT 1st April 2023: Knowle -v- Inkberrow - Home – MFL D2 – KO 1500

WED 5th April 2023: Knowle v Cadbury Athletic: Les James Cup Semi-Final: KO 1800

SAT 8th April 2023: Fairfield Villa v Knowle AWAY – MFL D2 – KO 1500

MON 10th April 2023: Boldmere S & S F AWAY – MFL D2 – KO 1500