Seymour Shines Brightly Amid Robins Stars

The Seeleys have assembled a galaxy of stars at the Draintach Community Stadium, but Hayden Seymour shone brightly among them in this mis-match. Solid in defence, fleet of foot and productive in attack, he was the best of a very good bunch that wore the red and black last Saturday.

Alvis are a young side, who pass the ball about nicely, but without end product. They were totally outclassed in this match. Skill, determination and tactics; the Robins had it all. That the young Alvis players never gave up and continued to play football right up to the final whistle is testimony that they will improve. But in this match, it was all about the Robins.

At the start, Alvis employed a 3-4-3 formation that would present Knowle with problems early on. Indeed, the visitors were already one goal to the good before they even had to worry about Alvis’ set up. Right from the off Knowle forced a corner from which Jack Mullen headed home at the far post. The clock showed forty seconds!

Twenty minutes later an Alvis Free Kick was whipped into the Robin’s Area, only for the ball to skim from Rainey’s head and into the net. It would be the last time the home side came anywhere near to scoring. Knowle set about their task like professionals from there on in. Ten minutes from the break, Nathan Corry crossed from the right for Jack Mullen to secure his second goal of the afternoon. Right after the goal, aggravation broke out between the two benches. Assistant Referee Allan Salisbury was on hand to restore order, as he was at the very end of the match. It was disappointing that these two incidents soured the afternoon.

The second half began much as had the first. Within a minute Charlie Morris took advantage of an Alvis defensive mix-up to increase Knowle’s lead. Ten minutes later he did it again, this time from eighteen yards. Not to be outdone, Corry got his goal just after the hour mark. He too, pounced on a defensive mistake to make it five.

This was a comprehensive victory. Alvis had no answer to the Robins power-play. Morris and Corry had the freedom of the flanks, swopping with an intelligence that bemused the Alvis defence. At the back, the Robins’ defence was totally solid. In mid-field they dictated proceedings and up front they were a thorns for the home side. Seymour may be the man of the match, but every Robin on display had a really good game.

Afterwards, Matthew Seeley, Knowle’s Joint Manager was purring. He thought the three points were well deserved and well earned. He did say that the visit of Redditch Borough to The Robins’ Nest next Saturday would be a tough affair. He expects Borough to “Park the Bus” in an attempt to frustrate his players. No doubt it will be a game well worth watching.

Knowle: Johnson; Rainey; Seymour; Clarke; (Bailey) ; Ricketts; Morris [46 & 55] (Mico); Staley; Mullen [40 sec & 35] (Walton); G Seeley ©; Corry [63]. Subs not used: Callum Burston-Keeley.

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Saturday 25th February 2023: Knowle v Redditch Borough: MFL D2: KO1500

Saturday 4th March 2023: Knowle v Kenilworth Sporting: Les James Cup: KO 1500

Saturday 11th March 2023: Knowle v Cadbury Athletic: MFL D2: KO 1500