WE'LL TAKE IT

Subs

• Palmer
• Broadhurst

Finally we managed to get off the mark with 3 Premiership points and a big win for the lads which will hopefully ease the nerves and lift the burden that we appear to have been playing under. Today was by no means a good performance in my eyes and we were not a patch on our performance against Coleshill last week but we did have much the better of the game and managed to get the win.

We have obviously struggled to score goals so far this season so I selected what I believed to be a very attacking team with Jack and Ryan on the wings. Mark has been thrown upfront in a bid to change our luck in front of goal. Jack foster joined Halloran on the injury list and we will be without both of those players for a few more weeks. Jonjo was unlucky to miss out as he did well against Coleshill.

We started very brightly with conditions in our favour. Jack Davies was through on goal within 2 minutes but blazed a shot high over the bar. We continued to press and Henry was picking out the right pass more often than not. Ryan was next to have a chance fall to him but his shot was scuffed and blocked by the defender. Knowle did break out every so often and the always dangerous number 9 was again proving to be a handful. Matty and Graham had to throw in some last ditch tackles to keep the scores level.

Dylan was next to have a chance for us. A cross from the right fell to Dylan at the back post but again we failed to hit the target from close range. This has been the major disappointment in the last two weeks. So many chances where we have failed to test the keeper. As the half wore on we seemed to be getting frustrated and more and more mistakes crept in. Several through balls just reached there keeper before we got them and Mark was next to have a chance when he burst through only to fire high and wide.

Both teams looked good from corners. Mark had two that clipped the bar and we defended well at the other end. Matt and Graham were still having there work cut out with the impressive forward and he did break through on a few occasions. Graham and Pete provided last ditch tackles and Steve saved welll with his legs.

Toward the end of the half we had seemed to have given up and our play became ragged at best. We stopped passing the ball, stopped wanting the ball and the players were beginning to get on each others backs.

The whistle went and Knowle were delighted with 0-0 after soaking up so much pressure and seeing so many chances wasted. We had a frank chat at half time and nobody seemed best pleased with how we had gone about things. Jonjo and Dayle were now on and we changed our shape slightly.

We again started the half on top and we looked much better in the early stages. Jonjo made an immediate impact by putting his foot on the ball and linking up cleverly with Rob and Henry.

More chances would come and go with several shots from distance flying over the bar. The always impressive Knowle keeper was alert to stifle most of our attacks.

We kept the pressure on and finally it told – or so we thought it had. Mark beat his marker and shot powerfully. It appeared that keeper palmed the ball into the roof of the net. The ball came back out and the referee and linesman decided that they couldn’t be sure so the game had to go on at 0-0.

Heads seemed to drop a little and Knowle came more and more into the game. Several half chances could have gone in and the woodwork that was so cruel to us against Coleshill last week, was this time on our side.

The game was now end to end and something had to give. A through ball was handled by there defender and the ref awarded a penalty. Mark stepped up to score (with not his best penalty). The Knowle keeper was unlucky after getting a firm hand on the ball.

Both teams kept going forward in the late stages. Dyl had a couple of chances that fell on his weaker foot. Knowle could have scored at the other end as we rode our luck. Finally we killed the game off when Jonjo expertly bent a free kick into the top corner from way out on the left wing. 2-0.

Full time and a victory. We had much the better of the possession and territory but on clear cut chances Knowle will feel they could have got something from it. I was pleased with our 2^nd half in the sense that we reacted to what was said at half time. We now have points on the board and we need to enjoy our two week break from the league games and come back hard and re-discover the form from last weeks game against Coleshill.

We have now had 3 games in this division and we have seen what needs to be done to get victories. Every game could go either way. We have only conceded 3 goals in 3 games which is a great achievement but missed chances at the other end have cost us points.

One final note and a special mention to Stevo and his family. Steve lost his grandfather this weekend and he still managed to turn out and keep a clean sheet for the team. Well done mate and I hope the win has helped put a smile back on your face.

Steve