O'Neil-Martin Secures The Points Against Fairfield

Ronald Crane reports from The Recreation Ground

The Robins were without captain George Seeley, Lewis Clarke & Hayden Seymour, plus Dylon Bennett who broke down during the warm-up and although Nathan Corry was sitting on the bench, it was known he was unlikely to get onto the park. To go into such an important match with five first-choice players absent is usually a worry. However, the Seeleys have put together a squad at Hampton Road, that has real depth.

Those players who took the field for this match were far more than capable deputies. They all proved their worth with this win. That is not to say the match was easy, nor without its problems for the men in red and black.

The Robins began well enough, and fifteen minutes into the match Kartel O’Neil-Martin opened the scoring with a goal similar to the one he scored against Inkberrow, with the difference that he had more to do. He needed to beat his man and the ‘keeper on this occasion, a feat he managed with aplomb.

For the rest of the first period, all went well for The Robins. It seemed just a matter of time before the second goal would come. It was not to be. Ten minutes after the break, an unfortunate mis-kick allowed Villa’s Alex Knight to pounce and score.

This gave the home side just the fillip they needed, and for the rest of the match Knowle needed all their skill, tact, and guile to secure the win. To make matters more complicated, the match became ‘testy’ to use a polite word. Discipline deteriorated, and matters came to a head when Villa’s Nikinder Uppal was sent for an early bath.

Ten minutes prior to this, O’Neil-Martin had put The Robins in-front from the penalty spot after a hand-ball decision against the home side. Jack Mullen had a goal disallowed for some reason. Villa then had six minutes to play with ten men. They did their very best to get the equaliser. However, this Robins side does not cave in so easily. They held out to take all three points.

Knowle FC: Johnson; Rainey (Blythe); Jennings; G. Clark; McCardle; Sinton; Morris (Walton); Ricketts; Mullen; Staley; O’Neil-Martin. Subs not used: Bennett, Corry, & Gasiewski.

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Mon 10th April; Boldmere S & S F – AWAY – MFL D2 – KO 1500

Sat 15th April; Alcester Town – AWAY – MFL D2 – KO 1500

Tue 18th April; Bolehall Swifts – AWAY – MFL D2 KO 1820

Sat 22nd April; Kenilworth Sporting – HOME – MFL D2 – KO 1500