Robins Triumph in Six Point Thriller

Ronald Crane reports from Coleshill Road.

For the second week running, The Robins conceded an goal at their left goal post. Sloppy defending, combined with lack of concentration, allowed Tom Massey to open the scoring on thirty-two minutes with a scrappy affair.

Up to that point this match had been strangely flat, considering the importance of a game where top of the table faced third. However, from the moment United went ahead, the match burst into life. They were in front for just six minutes however. The Robins responded in style and took control of the mid-field, and therefore of the match. Great work by Man of the Match Reece Staley, allowed the number eight to feed Jack Mullen with the perfect through ball. Mullen made no mistake from an acute angle.

Realising they had the momentum, The Robins pressed their hosts hard. With a spot of luck, they could have gone ahead. Two shots blocked and United needed all hands at the pump to keep The Robins out. As the first half came to an end, United’s Kaine Donald was screaming at his team-mates to get a grip.

The second half was a full-blooded affair with both sides going all out for the winner. Yet still The Robins held the middle-ground. United altered their formation half a dozen times in an attempt to confuse Knowle. Knowle were not confused. Instead they grabbed the chance to win the game. The Robins launched attack after attack and always looked the more likely to score. With the clock showing 56 minutes, Kartel O’Neil-Martin’s shot took a wicked deflection leaving Wagstaff in the home goal no chance. The Robins had their noses in front.

United had been starved of attempts on goal as the Division’s meanest defence showed its mettle. Twenty minutes from time United’s Lewis James took exception to O’Neil-Martin’s challenge. As the Knowle man moved away, James appeared to rake his studs down the back of his calf. O’Neil-Martin reacted and shaped up to James, pushing his face into James’ forehead, twice. Referee Leary had little choice but to send both players from the field. The final third of the match became a ten a side affair, with United losing a defender, and Knowle an attacker.

United did their level best to secure the equalizer they so desperately needed, yet only troubled Craig Johnson on two occasions. There were six extra minutes, enough time for another melee, this time in front of the visitor’s dug-out. The final whistle was greeted with loud cheers from the visiting supporters, and players.  Make no mistake, this was a well deserved victory against a side who pass the ball around well. Nevertheless, Knowle were the better side, and posed problems to United, that the home side just could not solve.

This result leaves Knowle in third place in the MFL: Division Two table ten points behind United, but with three matches in hand.

Finally, thank you to the referee who had taken charge of a Birmingham AFA match prior to this one for agreeing to act as Assistant. Appointed referee Ryan Byrne had to pull out on short notice after dislocating his knee in a morning fixture, leaving David Leary to step up and Jonathan Phillips as the sole remaining assistant.  Without the help of their colleague stepping in, Leary would have had to rely on Club Linesman on both flanks. 

Knowle: Johnson; Rainey; Seymour; Clarke; McArdle; Bennett; Morris (Corry); Staley; Mullen [38]; G Seeley ©; O’Neil Martin [56] Subs not used: Jacob Walton; Jack Ricketts; Mico Ela Mamiaga.

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Saturday 11th February 2023: AFC Somers v Knowle: Saturday Vase: 

Saturday 18th February 2023: Coventry Alvis v Knowle: MFL D2: KO 1500

Saturday 25th February 2023: Knowle v Barnt Green Spartak, or Redditch Borough: MFL D2: KO1500

Saturday 4th March 2023: Knowle v Kenilworth Sporting: MFL D2: KO 1500