Rolph's Hat-Trick Beats Kingfisher

Knowle took to the field in buoyant mood after last weekend’s excitement, but it was not a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show – the Robins showed from the outset they were not only aware of the threat a good Kingfisher side posed, but also equal to it. Their positive attitude almost paid off in the first five minutes when a glorious chance fell to Jess Holland after good work by Demi Rolph squared her in, but her shot was straight at the keeper. Knowle continued to be creative around the penalty area, playing clever passes to set up opportunities but the Kingfisher defence worked hard to block shots and get tackles in. A succession of Knowle corners saw Morgan Betteridge deliver superb crosses but the Knowle attackers couldn’t quite get on the end of them.  

The goal was coming however, and it was Knowle’s top scorer so far this season who notched again. Jess Barlow beat the full back out wide and fired in a great cross, Holland’s glancing header was deflected away from goal and Rolph was on hand to blast it past the keeper. Holland was in the thick of it again soon after when her header was cleared off the line by the Kingfisher defender. The home side also offered a threat in the air and came close with a header over the bar from a well delivered corner. Rolph’s next effort bounced agonisingly wide of the post after Bex Clarke teed her up, but it wasn’t long before Knowle did extend their lead. Betteridge’s delivery was on the money once again and this time Sam Smith got the run right and stabbed it home at the far post – a goal from the feet of the centre half is a collector’s item for sure!  

Knowle were in the ascendency and it only took three minutes for them to score their third. The away side timed the press well with Emma Shaw and Holland forcing Kingfisher back towards their own goal before Holland pinched the ball and played it to Rolph. She cut inside and lashed her shot past the keeper for her second of the game. In the final ten minutes of the first half, Kingfisher won a couple more corners but Knowle cleared them well, and Katy Smirthwaite was alert to claim anything that came into the box by other means. Abi Morris and Abbie Diskin came on to make their competitive debuts and both acquitted themselves well at full back to keep Knowle on top.

The second half saw less chances for the Robins, but they were always in control of the game. Natalie Gibson forced a good save from the keeper early on and Betteridge fired a long range attempt over the bar after being played in by Barlow. Kingfisher created chances of their own; Smirthwaite coming out on top in a one on one and fielding a stinging long range drive. Rolph thought she’d scored her hattrick when Kate Fleming and Lucy Jones combined to win the ball and set her up, but the shot went just wide. Clarke also had an attempt from the edge of the area charged down. Smith and Maz Byrne at the back for Knowle were marshalling the defence well and making sure they restricted Kingfisher’s attempts as the game wore on.  

With 79 minutes on the clock, Rolph finally picked up her hat-trick. Camile Abbotts won the ball in midfield and clipped her pass over the top of the Kingfisher defence where Rolph picked it up, turned the defender and placed her shot past the keeper. Luck was on Knowle and the young forward’s side - the linesman flagged for offside but the referee overruled him which did seem to be the wrong decision, but Rolph was able to celebrate the third goal that her performance deserved. This goal seemed to deflate Kingfisher after a staunch second half showing, and the final ten minutes was all Knowle. Morris charged through two defenders to create havoc but couldn’t quite find Jones with her cross, and the keeper held a long range shot from Fleming well. Knowle’s player of the match Betteridge had moved over to the left in the final stages and she could have scored the goal of the game late on, beating four defenders before letting fly, but the shot went wide. Gibson then preserved Knowle’s clean sheet with a thumping header to clear a late Kingfisher corner and give Knowle the 0-4 win.

Knowle were more than happy with the performance and the result; as proved by the impromptu changing room karaoke session after the game. They maintain their perfect start to the season, and preparations start for the trip to Westfields next Sunday.

Knowle: Smirthwaite, Shaw (Morris, 30), Smith, Byrne, Betteridge (Diskin, 30), Clarke, Fleming (Jones 45), Abbotts (Gibson 45), Rolph, Holland, Barlow.