Return to Winning Ways with hard-fought victory at Birstall

George Revell reports on a big night for Knowle in Leicestershire…

A resilient second-half display helped 10-man Knowle return to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-0 victory away at Birstall United on Tuesday night.

The Robins’ record-breaking 21-match winning streak in Midland Football League Division One was only ended by Heather St. John’s the previous Saturday, but their grit and determination saw them get back on track with a huge win.

Following a cagey opening 45 minutes, MD Shimul utilised his pace to find the breakthrough for Knowle 12 minutes into the second half before Talib Copeland sealed the points in stoppage time after Dylon Bennett’s red card.

Knowle thought they were going to be forced into an early change when Hayden Purves was wiped out by Owen Dewing after just four minutes. Purves was taken down by left-back Dewing on the edge of the penalty area after latching onto Connor Mort’s through ball, but once he had received treatment, the winger was cleared to continue.

After an opening that lacked any clear-cut opportunities for either side, 17-goal striker George Seeley turned provider to create a half-chance for Odane Barnes in the 29th minute. Seeley, also the Knowle skipper, aimed an in-swinging right-wing cross towards the back post where Barnes was waiting, but his fellow forward couldn’t make contact.

Birstall came close to taking the lead 11 minutes before half-time. Knowle allowed Nick Reeves an uncontested header to flick on a deep throw-in and the ball dropped invitingly for Charlie Young, whose effort was inches away from the bottom-right corner.

The game’s intensity grew after the break and Knowle denied two goal-bound Birstall shots from close range with two superb blocks on 53 minutes.

Just four minutes later, Shimul - on as a half-time substitute - provided the electrifying energy and speed Knowle needed. The 22-year-old latched onto Seeley’s sliderule pass and raced away from the Birstall defence before rounding the onrushing goalkeeper Charlie Doherty and calmly slotting into an empty net.

Most of the remaining half-hour was a very scrappy affair - foul after foul and header after header - which lacked any real goal-mouth action. The closest either side came was when Copeland cut in from the left and arrowed a shot just wide of Doherty’s right-hand post.

The feisty clash took a bizarre turn in the second minute of stoppage time. Bennett appeared to be booked a second time - and subsequently given his marching orders - for mistakenly handling the ball after the referee had blown for him to take a free-kick.

Substitute Jack Duggan expertly diverted a threatening first-time right-wing cross away from goal as Birstall searched for a leveller in the closing stages, but some route-one football saw Knowle put the game to bed with 60 seconds to play.

Mort bypassed almost the entire Birstall team with a sublime lofted ball and Copeland won his tussle with Birstall defender Fraser Hawes before delicately dinking over the onrushing Doherty - and wheeling away in celebration knowing the three points were safely coming back to B93.

Wins on nights like this are a hallmark of champions.