BRINKLOW 1-2 KNOWLE FC: FULL REPORT BY THE MOWDOG...

Knowle Spoil Brinklow’s New Beginning

Brinklow 1-2 Knowle FC

Roughly in thirds, Brinklow dominated at first, Knowle stumbled into the game either side of half-time and received a couple of generous gifts from their hosts in the process and the final half-hour was one in which Brinklow’s replacements tried hard against Knowle’s stubborn outfit, in which central defender Luke Hennessey was outstanding. Without his crucial challenges during the opening half, Brinks could have been several goals ahead and ‘keeper Perry Cox, despite being tested both by some decent deliveries from the Brinklow flanks and constantly being baulked by Nathan Stoute on his goal-line, made a couple of important saves too. The grass was too long, the ball didn’t move across it smoothly or quickly enough for the teams to pass it with any confidence and the indignant referee, aided by hesitant assistants from the teams, performed with little real consistency. Consequently, he overruled an offside flag to offer Knowle an equaliser, missed a couple of flying elbows, took abuse from players on regular occasions, warned a couple of them but then cautioned Knowle replacement Torryn Connolly, for his reaction after squandering a second period chance to score. Ah, it’s all in the game, m’dears…  

WEIRD WATCHING THE NEW 'KICK-OFF'...

Such a flying start for new manager Edwin Greaves could not have been dreamed of but strong right-back play by Nathan Ley led to a free-kick, a cross and a goal by Nathan Ellis, with Cox buckling beneath the challenge in his 6 yard box. Danny Lucas was instrumental in the early stages too and a rolled ‘shot’ went close, although he later tested Cox with a falling volley and a header but with Hennessey in fine form, home striker Blake Kasser found getting free of the shackles tough. Crosses were causing Cox some grief though and Stoute’s positioning, nudging the ‘keeper at set-pieces, wasn’t helping. Kasser and central defender Craig Burrin missed with headers, Lucas and Ley drove shots off target and Hennessey snuffed out the dangerous left-flank runs of Jordan Hayward on a couple of occasions.

THE THREATENING JORDAN HAYWARD FACES UP TO THE EFFECTIVE LUKE HENNESSEY...

Lucas threaded two fine passes through for the hosts but with strong left-back Ben Tennant tucking in rather often, no doubt to cover an opponent’s run, as a home midfielder was often absent in that zone, the left touchline outlet wasn’t exploited enough really. Cox beat out a fine drive by Tennant but after a dodgy Cox punch, Kasser’s and Burrin’s headers led to a scramble and Stoute’s over-shoulder effort from 3 yards bounced off the cross-beam. Lucas’ fine pass for the speedy Hayward saw the left-sider rap a firm cross-shot against the far post but Cox reacted superbly to skipper Tom Ford’s 23 yard rebound strike to tip it over the goal-frame.

Knowle’s early contributions were to weather the above squalls, with skipper Callum Mallett hammering the referee with complaints and manhandling Stoute away from his goalkeeper. Both Mallett and Cox were lectured by the crimson-faced official. On offense, the sprightly Ben Ellicott was superbly tackled by Ellis, before he, then Spencer Dixon nodded corners wide, the second flag-kick coming after Ellis, eyes on the ball, had carefully headed a long Knowle kick back to his goalie Adrian Pascal, not realising he was steaming from goal like a shunter in a Swindon rail-yard. Everyone watched in horror as the ball bobbled along the tufts of turf towards goal, only for it to roll past the left upright. A smart clipped shot by midfielder Roz Kane swerved off target for the Robins before Ellicott’s equaliser stunned the Brinks and then almost at the break, Pascal hesitated again, as he had done when the goal went in but redeemed himself with a quick drop left to stop Kane’s flick. Let’s hope Kane’s nickname isn’t Harry… Know what I mean, Harry?

HOSEIN KHORRAMI RECEIVES THE SECOND-HALF 'KICK-OFF' FROM BLAKE KASSER...

Before the changes made by the Brinks at half-time could even begin to take effect, a really poor defensive misunderstanding offered Ellicott his second gift of the afternoon and it was uphill for the hosts after that, almost like climbing the motte of their nearby castle in their slippers. Both full-backs would be replaced and thus Cox’s afternoon became less fraught in the Robins’ goal. He fell left to smother and save a dropping Kasser header, watched a wild Lucas drive fly too high but struggled to collect a sneaky Lucas free-kick from 30 yards, as if he was attempting to pick up a particularly difficult and wriggling pet rabbit. His best save though, came from a 25 yard effort by Hosein Khorrami, which was deflected by Hennessey and the ‘keeper got down well to his left to push the ball away. 

"IT'S MY BALL & I'VE GOT TO GO HOME FOR MY TEA..."

THE INCIDENT WAS WELL OVER TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE PITCH, SO THE REFEREE BOUNCED THE BALL JUST OUTSIDE THE BRINKLOW 18 YARD BOX... HMM...

Khorrami wanted the ball, showed fine skill on occasions and despite the handicap of a sluggish surface, displayed enough to suggest that his midfield craft should be a real bonus for the Brinks this term. Kasser did escape Hennessey once but his low cross-shot from inside-left wriggled wide of the far upright from 19 yards, yet Cox was otherwise untroubled, watching a Dylan Coker-Caramber shot fly into the upper reaches of one of the highest surrounding trees late on, despite the neat set up being provided by Ash Marks. The Brinklow skipper, Marks and colleague Ford foraged hard throughout the match. Replacement Denis Denis, once sung about by Blondie, hassled Knowle from left-back, as Jack Cunningham did on the right side but the Brinks failed to find the killer blow, with Knowle’s persistence winning out. Benny Adeeko was rarely given good service to work the right flank effectively and Stoute’s runs were sorely missed.

BENNY ADEEKO: NICE BUT EVER SO TIRED...

Knowle fought strongly after the interval, using their substitutions wisely and nullified any decent passing by their hosts but they ought to have increased their lead when lively replacement Connolly raced away through the middle, veered right past Pascal but was forced off the ball by Burrin. He then looked totally exasperated and must have commented, for the referee flew out of his block like Justin Gatlin in the U.S. Olympic trials to caution the Robins’ forward. He also drove a shot into the side-netting, following a quickly taken corner by his colleague Luke Trotman and also volleyed wildly wide late on, as his pace threatened to expose Brinklow’s push for an equaliser. However, Dixon so nearly glanced in a header from Ellicott’s left-side free-kick, again exposing some understandable pre-season misunderstandings in the Brinks’ defensive marking.

TORRYN CONNOLLY GETS HIS YELLOW CARD.
RARE IN A PRE-SEASON GAME...

Resolution by Knowle was critical and Hennessey provided the meat in their play, with Trotman and Mallett adding their physical attributes throughout. Cox would be pleased with the saves he made and Dixon will surely be a threat at offensive set-pieces.

LATE IN THE GAME & THE BRINKS LOOK RESIGNED TO DEFEAT...

Brinklow looked to pass the ball but on that awful surface, it wasn’t easy and yet but for the goal-frame, Cox’s saves and two dreadful goals conceded, they might have won the contest. A lack of communication between their central defenders and the ‘keeper was their main problem, which ought to sort itself in the coming weeks and the hesitancy shown by them was highlighted by Hennessey’s no nonsense defending for the Robins. Maybe the insistence of ball retention as the game wore on led to some overplaying, as illustrated by the lack of goal attempts and the few opportunities afforded Kasser, who is likely to be a real goalscorer for the Brinks this season. 

The goals: 

1-0:

Ley’s free-kick from the right placed Cox in all sorts of trouble as Ellis bundled the ball over the goal-line and the ‘keeper fell into an untidy heap.

ELLIS NETTED, BURRIN RUNS JUST LIKE HIM...

1-0...

1-1:

Kane slipped the ball forward for Ellicott, a linesperson’s flag was raised, Brinklow’s defence stopped, Pascal, who had advanced, simply pulled up as he reached the ball and didn’t deal with it but Ellicott flicked it round the aghast goalie and ran it into the net. The referee made his way over to the assistant and overruled the decision. Poor all round, whoever was at fault. Caused some real resentment between players too…

ELLICOTT ADDS HIS PRESENCE TO THE CONVINCING OF THE ASSISTANT...

1-2: 

A left-side throw, a cross by Rich Collins, Ellis, Burrin and Pascal waited for each other to do something positive, none did and the wily Ellicott mugged Burrin and slipped a low shot into the right corner of the net. Good anticipation by him but such disappointing defending by Brinklow.

ELLICOTT NIPPED IN &...

...WON THE GAME FOR KNOWLE...

Many thanks to the two managers, Chris Knott of Knowle and Edwin Greaves of Brinklow for providing me with some names to assist in this match report. I hope I have got most of them right…

Me? Listened to Danny Lucas complaining about flying elbows, which the official apparently didn’t see, or maybe didn’t want to know about, then drove back to munch chicken pie in Solihull, before harassing Chris Knott about his players’ identities all evening. I still wonder why he didn’t just list them all in one text… He was being secretive, maybe…

It’s what I do…