ROBINS SINK LUCKLESS INKS

Ronald Crane reports from the Draintech

If you give players of the quality of Branden Hague and George Curry extra space, they will punish you. The sending off of Inkberrow’s Daniel Blake after forty minutes provided them that space, and the Robins’ pair took full advantage. Not only them, but all the home side stepped up a gear and eventually received their reward. 

There was no dispute about the sending off. The player had stamped on George Seeley as he was on the ground, leaving Referee Neil Jones little option but to show the red card.

It had all begun so promising for the visitors. They started straight out of the blocks and pushed the Robins on the back foot. Under pressure, the men in red made a total hash of a free kick wide on their right near the touch-line. The ball was sent into the six yard area, Tregatha did punch clear, but the ball eventually came to PHELAN, who opened the scoring with ease. It was a bad goal to concede.

Knowing this, Inkberrow set about doubling their score. Knowle had to clear from their own goal-line and defend seven corners in that first-half. A back pass was short, but the situation saved at the expense of a corner. 

As the half progressed, the home side found their feet and began to ask the visiting defence some questions of their own. Turner, between the posts for Inkberrow, had to be on top form to keep them out. His position became ever more important in the crucial second-half, even to the point that at the death he abandoned his area and joined in the fun with his front men.

Inkberrow had difficulty in dealing with Dodd’s long throws, yet somehow managed to reach the break with their lead intact. One feared for them in the second-half if Knowle played at pace, but that was not to be.

The second half was barely three minutes old when George Curry received a wonderful long ball from his defence, only for the number seven to drag his shot wide. He was furious with himself. Nevertheless, Hague and Curry were running the show now. Seeley, Dodd, and Paterson joined in and left the back men to deal with occasional Inkberrow attacks, which they did satisfactorily. It was hard work though, because Inkberrow did not throw in the towel, but kept going with great reserves of energy. 

With the clock showing fifty-six minutes, it was Curry, Seeley, and then HAGUE from ten yards. The scores were level.

Inkberrow, to their eternal credit responded at once, and a really good cross flashed through the Robins’ six yard area.

The Robins were to have eleven, yes eleven (11), shots on target in that second-half, but it took a terrible mistake by Inkberrow for them to secure the winning goal. Twelve minutes from the end, an awful pass in defence fell to SEELEY who stroked the ball home.

Still the visitors attempted to retrieve the situation, but the Robins held firm. In fact, they ought to have made it three when Seeley had a fierce show well saved by Turner.

These three points were hard won. The newly promoted side aRe a good side, and Knowle had to work very hard for the win. But perhaps the lesson is that is just what they did – work hard and added that extra bit of quality that saw them over the line.

Knowle FC: Tregatha; McCardle; Payne; Regan; Delaney (Galloway); Cosgrove ©; Curry; Dodd; Hague [56]; Seeley [78] (Perrins); Paterson (Griffith). Sub not used: Ormston. Booked: Cosgrove.

Knowle FC Next Matches - Saturday 18th September 2021 Knowle FC v Barnt Green Spartak FC; KO 1500. At The Draintech Community Ground, Hampton Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0NX.