ROBINS WIN, BUT SQUANDER CHANCES

For the second week running, the Robins’ had a difficult task to defeat a well organised and hard working side. But unlike last week against Inkberrow, Spartak offered little up front until the final ten minutes. It seems their plan was to soak up all Knowle’s pressure and then grab the winner – or equalizer – at the death. In this they nearly succeeded.

In the absence of Clive Seeley, Callum Ingram and Ash Weeks took the reins. Five changes were made, two positional. Tom Cullen, Luke Fox and Ethan Galloway returned. Luke Dodd dropped to full back, with Christian McCardle wearing the number six shirt. George Curry was named on the bench because of injury along with Ryan Andrews. Sam Delaney’s injury ruled him out altogether. 

The home side began well enough and the pressurized visiting defence had a few dodgy moments. One wondered if this would cost them later in the match. Yet Spartak continued to play their dangerous game at the back, even though they were nearly caught out more than once.

Most of the game was played in the Spartak half of the park, and it was one-way traffic for the most part. Even on their occasional forays forward, the men in orange could not manage a shot on, or off, target. The Robins, on the other hand, squandered chances at will.

Marcus Malcolm, the Spartak number eight had been lucky not to see Yellow in the first half. Mr Joyce, the Referee, allowed him on more foul and then produced the expected card for the following one. He was immediately substituted. A wise move, one felt.

The patten of the game continued for much of the second half. Constant Robins’ pressure, poor finishing, shots blocked or saved, and too often a bad choice for the final ball. Thirteen minutes from the end, Branden HAGUE intercepted a pass out from the Spartak Goalkeeper, beat two men and hit the back of the net.

This sparked the visitors into action and they had their best period of the match. managing three shots on target. Somehow the Robins’ kept them out, but there were times then it was mighty close. We have seen this before this season. The Robins' inability to see out a game with careful game management. The Robins and the crowd thought it would be two nil when Ryan Andrews was brought down in the Area. Any doubt about the Penalty was disbursed when he showed us all the scars in the Club House afterwards! In the event Jay Payne’s penalty was easily saved by Martin and the added time was very nervous for the home side. In the end, by a combination of last-ditch defending, poos finishing and sheer good luck, they held out. 

Truth to tell, Knowle deserved their victory. They were by far the better side and held all the cards apart from those final nervous minutes.

Knowle FC: Tregatha; Dodd (Paterson); Payne; Regan; Cosgrove ©; McCardle; Cullen; Fox; Hague [77] (Andrews); Seeley; Galloway (Perrins). Sub not used: Curry & Harbon.

Knowle FC Next Match - Saturday 25th September 2021 Earlswood Town v Knowle FC; KO 1500. At The Pavilions, Malthouse Lane, Earlswood, Warwickshire B94 5DX.