Top of the Table Clash Ends Up Honours Even
30th March 2024: Knowle FC 1-1 Redditch Borough
Ronald Crane reports from the Draintech Community Ground
This match was played in front of a large crowd of 271; the Robins’ largest of the season. That it went ahead at all, given the amount of rain in the past week, is testament to the skill of the Draintech Groundsman, as not many games at all went ahead in the MFL. Indeed, many of the watching spectators were players and staff from other Division Two sides, no doubt intrigued as to which of the front runners would come out on top.
Right from the off, Borough showed their physical intent with two crunching tackles, each of which resulted in the Physio attending a head injury. This set the tone for the first-half. Although The Robins did try to make progress, for the most part this period of the match was played in their own half of the park.
Nevertheless, the reliable Robins’ defence was only breached once, and then because of terrible, and uncharacteristic, defending. This allowed Kelaiah Warren-Paul to chip Goalkeeper Bobby Biddle to open the scoring.
The physios of both sides were kept busy, as player after player went to ground with injury and the match was stopped almost as much as the ball was in play.
For all their dominance in this first period, Borough managed just two more attempts on target, both of which were easily deal with by Knowle’s custodian. As it was there were no more scoring as the players went off for half-time.
I am not sure what was said in the Home Dressing Room, but it was a different side that began the second-half. Odane Barnes beat the Borough goalie and defender only to shave the wrong side of the post. He was a constant threat throughout.
As the match progressed, the home side increased their dominance, so much so that Borough could not managed a single shot on target in that second half. As the ninety minutes drew near, the crowd became restless, the home fans as they urged their favourites on to equalise, the away supporters as they saw which way the wind was blowing.
Ex-Robin Rob Shaw was very lucky not to receive a second yellow, on another day, well it could have been different. As it was the Referee signalled that there were seven minutes of added time. In the third of these he awarded Knowle a penalty following a clumsy challenge. Man of the Match Owain Taylor stepped up and secured a share of the points.
As the players made their way from the field, the Borough supporters were saying that they felt the draw put them in the box seat as far as the championship was concerned. This may be so, but with thirteen games for them still to play, I wonder if there will be any other twists and turns…
The major disaster for Knowle FC was that the Club House ran out of beer!
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Knowle FC: Biddle; Taylor [90+3p]; Rainey; L Clarke; G Clark; Bennett; Scott(Rendell); Mullan; Barnes; G Seeley (c)(Riddiford); Corry (Hague). Subs not used: McArdle & Burston-Keeley.
