Robins go 1 over the 8!

Ronald Crane reports from the Draintech Community Ground

This was just the performance that Knowle needed, following the debacle last week. Even so, the men in red were slow to start. It was Swifts who made the early running. They passed the ball around rather well, but without having any penetration. After ten minutes Fox burst from defence right into the heart of the visitors area. A corner was his reward, from which Cosgrove hit the post! 

It was the stimulus The Robins needed. A couple of minutes later the home side made the first of many great moves down both flanks. This time it was the right ball, Charlie MORRIS tapped home to open the scoring. One feared for the visitors, their body language was already a concern. These moves by The Robins along their flanks were like a knife cutting through soft butter.

With Clive Seeley’s men totally on top, it was no surprise when Lewis COSGROVE looped home the second goal. From now on, time and time again we saw beautiful flowing football from the home side. Every single man in red produced the highest of performances. On the half hour mark, Nathan Corry sent over the perfect cross, once more from the right, for George SEELEY to turn the ball home. Shortly after this, Jack Tregartha saved well from Swifts’ Whiteman. It was to be the first of just two shots on target the visitors managed all afternoon.

With many in the stands thinking about a cup of tea, Brandon HAGUE scored one of his trademark goals from eighteen yards. With Knowle four to nil at the break, the match was essentially over as a contest. But would Bolehall manage to improve for the second forty-five minutes?

To their credit, Bolehall Swifts kept to their principles, trying to play the ball out from the back, and on the ground through mid-field. Admirable principles, but do they have the players confident and capable enough to accomplish them? Huge credit to the visitors, they never gave in and kept to their principles. No nasty stuff. No haranguing the Officials. Infact Mr Lane and his two Assistants had an easy afternoon, with little to do. This was a credit to both sides.

The second half began slowly. It is, of course difficult to get motivated for another forty-five minutes when one is already four to the good. It took twenty-two minutes for The Robins to click into top gear again. Make no mistake they were on top for the whole game. In defence, stout and solid. In mid-field flowing and confident. In attack, purposeful and dangerous. Yet somehow, it was just not motoring as before. That all changed when another flowing move on the left flank resulted in the gilt-edged cross. It was duly thumped home by George SEELEY. Five minutes later Jay PAYNE made it six. As we moved into the end game, first Charlie MORRIS, and then Nathan CORRY rubbed salt into Bolehall Swifts wounds. In added time CORRY made it nine. It was a drubbing by any standards, and afterwards there was much soul searching in the visitors’ camp. They have much work to do.

For The Robins, this result must not go to their heads. They will not find things as easy as this, many times this season. Certainly not next Saturday for the visit of high-flying Kenilworth Sporting.

Knowle FC: Tregatha; McArdle; Payne; Cosgrove; Fox; Delaney (Arthur); Morris; Bennett (Regan); Hague; Seeley (Galloway); Corry.

No Subs not used.

Att: 37

Knowle FC Next Match - Saturday 30th October 2021: Knowle FC v Kenilworth Sporting FC MFL Division 2. KO 1500.