Knowle Make Hard Work of Victory

Ronald Crane reports from The Draintech Community Ground

To watch this match was not a joy. It was hard work, as was the play on the pitch. The visitors began the match at full throttle. However inside seven minutes they were down to ten men. Goalkeeper Josh Richards rushed out of his area to challenge Brandon Hague who had been put through, only for the hapless ‘Keeper to be shown a red card for bringing the Robin down. There were complaints from the men in blue, but the Referee, after consultation with his Assistant, showed no mercy. Coventrians would have to play eighty three minutes with a man short. Defender Lewis Barratt took over the goalie’s jersey.

If spectators expected this then to be a rout by the home side, they were in for a shock. For most of the first half, it was Coventrians who were in possession and in Robins’ territory. They were unlucky to go to the break without a goal.

It was Oscar Slater between the Robins’ posts as Craig Johnson was injured down in the warm up. The young keeper did splendidly, saving the two shots Coventrians managed and cutting out numerous crosses. He commanded his area, and encouraged his defence.

One must confess that, Oscar Slater apart, there were only two pieces of real quality in the whole match. The first came when Bradon Hague received the ball inside the “D” and from his left. He had his back to goal, feinted to his left, swiftly turned to his right and placed the ball neatly along the grass and into the bottom corner of the net. The second was just before the break. Odane Barnes ran on to a long high ball, and with the; Keeper advancing, his chip was inch perfect to drop into the net. There were calls for ‘off-side’ but I can witness that the Assistant Referee was right in line, and had no reason to flag.

With Knowle two up at half time, it was reasonable to expect more goals. We were disappointed, there were none. Only more yellow cards, and a red (for a second yellow) for Hayden Purves. So both sides finished with ten men.

This match was in no way a spectacle. But there is an old saying in football; “Sometimes you have to win ugly”. Knowle did win, and it was ugly.

On Saturday 28th September Knowle travel to Inkberrow for a MFL D2 match. KO 3pm.

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Knowle FC: Slater; Jones; Stone (Withington) Clarke; Record; G Seeley (c); Barnes [40]; T Scott; Hague [30] (Craine); Parsons; Purves.

Subs not used: Caines-Powell; Riddiford; Johnson..

Yellow Cards: Clarke; Purves (x2); Parsons; Record.

Red Card: Purves