KNOWLE FC 0-1 COVENTRY PLUMBING: THE MATCH REPORT...

Robins Thwarted By Plucky Plumbers

Knowle FC 0-1 Coventry Plumbing

There was an icy wind blowing across a grassy pitch with give, as a somewhat weakened Midland League 2 Knowle outfit was dumped from the Birmingham Saturday Cup by a wily and competitive but only slightly weakened Midland League 3 crew from Coventry Plumbing. The winning goal was worthy, unlike much of the football on display and was scored by the left boot of Plumber Connoll Farrell with a well executed volley during the second period. The opening half had been poor to watch, lacking decent attempts at goal and littered with errors and inaccuracy. Knowle had cleared a Kyle Jaynes header from their goal-line but otherwise generally the shooting had been badly awry, including a Steve Ruck penalty for Knowle which struck the crossbar.

THE HANDSHAKES, THE WOOLLY HAT & THE GLOVES...

LOUIS BRIDGES: NO LUCK...

Creatively it was tough to pick out any individual with craft, whereas the physical aspects of the contest were very evident, resulting in any number of free-kicks and losses of possession. Neither goalkeeper was particularly stressed and until Farrell’s strike, a penalty shootout had loomed heavy in the minds of the few spectators who had bothered to turn out on such a cold December afternoon. Certainly Luke Oakley was lively for the hosts and experienced ‘centre-forward’ Louis Bridges never shirked his responsibilities, despite rarely receiving the kind of service he both expected and deserved. Farrell, Jaynes and Joe Gardener in the Plumb-attack were too often held at bay by competitive home defenders Nic Oakley and Corey Powell, who played with stout resilience. The two midfields were more destructive than constructive, as Jordan Powell, Tom Probert and Alfie Boylin were involved in trench warfare with Robins’ Ash Weeks, a real slugger, and George Seeley. Knowle’s wide-players Nathan Corey and Charlie Griffiths were profligate with their shooting, as was Jordan Powell for the Plumbers…

PROBERT, JORDAN POWELL & LUKE OAKLEY...

"YEAH, I KNOW WE'RE A PANTO' HORSE BUT WHERE'S THE BLOODY COSTUME?"

'IF YOU'RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, HANDS ON HIPS...'

Before the break Seeley and Griffiths (three times) shot way too high, a low Corey shot rolled wide and his other attempt was well blocked by, er, his colleague Griffiths. One excellent challenge by Plumber Phil Chesters on Luke Oakley kept his team level before the break. The penalty incident was like watching a pantomime scene in which the characters had frozen, having forgotten their lines. The ball had struck the lower arm of Probert and amid protestations, the rather ineffective officials dithered, a flag was barely waved, nobody seemed aware of what was happening and then quietly a spot-kick was awarded. Home skipper Ruck duly smacked his penalty onto the face of the crossbeam… 

THE REF'S HEAD DIDN'T GET IN THE WAY THIS TIME...

The guests had fared no better, with a pair of hugely too high shots by skipper Jordan Powell, a hapless effort wide by Jaynes, who also managed a header which was nodded out from the goal-line by Weeks, after which Gardener drove wide of an upright. The second period needed to improve, following the players’ snacks of pigs in blankets and Ovaltine…

"I'M SHY, REF..."

There was subsequently more intensity, especially when Knowle were chasing parity but still goal chances were few in number. For Knowle, a clip from the right byeline by Bridges crossed the goalmouth, a Hall free-kick flew well wide, a Ruck delivery arrowed across goal too, Corey shot into the side-netting late on and Griffith once again lifted a shot way too high. However, credit to Jordan Powell for blocking a late effort by Seeley, following Hall’s short free-kick.

JORDAN POWELL IS WARNED BUT WEEKS, MOMENTS EARLIER, WASN'T...

RECESS TIME...

Plumbing were even less offensive and after Jaynes’ shot had been stopped by Corey Powell in front of ‘keeper Craig Johnson, Farrell took aim from 18 yards, right of centre as a clearance bounced up nicely for him. His hooked volley was really good and beat Johnson all the way as it rattled into the left corner of the net. Soon afterwards Johnson saved low from Farrell but he needed a defender to hack the loose ball clear. And, er, that was that…

GOAL FOR FARRELL...

Hard graft by Knowle brought no reward, as Chesters and George Swain, ably assisted by the dependable Joe Tobin, held firm for the Plumbers in defence, who were understandably vociferously delighted at the final whistle…

COREY POWELL & JAYNES...

THE MARCHING JORDAN POWELL WONDERS ABOUT JOINING THE MILITARY...

The referee was struck on the head by the ball kicked by Boylin on one occasion, the second most accurate effort of the afternoon. The official failed to fall to the ground in true panto’ style though. He was doubtless unwilling to dampen his gloves and shiver as the cold, wet turf oozed onto his skin… 

"SHIT, I WON THE GAME BUT I'VE LOST THE ARSE OF MY 'ORSE..."

Can’t blame him.   

TEAMS:

KNOWLE FC:

CRAIG JOHNSON, JORDAN HALL, STEVE RUCK (CAPT), ASH WEEKS, NIC OAKLEY, COREY POWELL, CHARLIE GRIFFITHS, GEORGE SEELEY, LOUIS BRIDGES, LUKE OAKLEY, NATHAN COREY.

SUBS:

YUSUF ROY, NIALL ATTENBORROW.

COVENTRY PLUMBING:

ROSS DAVIES, JOE TOBIN, ANDY SHARMAN, TOMMY PROBERT, PHIL CHESTERS, GEORGE SWAIN, JOE GARDENER, ALFIE BOYLIN, CONNOLL FARRELL, JORDAN POWELL (CAPT), KYLE JAYNES.

SUBS:

JAMES CHAPPELL, ARRON WHITEHEAD, DAVE EVANS, SEAN WOODFIELD, CAM PRINGLE-ANDREWS.