KNOWLE 1-3 COTON GREEN: THE INDEPENDENT, LIGHTHEARTED MATCH REPORT...

Robins Halted By Progressive Coton Green

Knowle FC 1-3 Coton Green

Knowle seemed lulled into hebetude by Coton Green’s approach and application at the Robins’ Nest ground, on a day when so many matches nation-wide had been postponed, either due to the Covid-19 crisis, or waterlogged pitches. The visitors took a wrench-like grip on the early proceedings, netted a goal and even though Knowle fashioned an equaliser, the guests squandered a penalty opportunity before the break, courtesy of a fine save from Ryan Pace by Craig Johnson. Two goals post-interval won the contest for Coton and barely a spectator in the crowd of 80 would begrudge them their success. 

STEVE RUCK IS ABOUT TO PRODUCE A RABBIT FROM BEHIND HIS LEFT EAR.
A TEAM-MATE IS ALREADY APPLAUDING...

The Robins found getting striker Lei Brown into the game difficult, although in truth he was splendidly marked by Coton’s long-throw expert Leighton McMenemy, whose springing leaps caused Brown to win fewer aerial challenges than he would have expected. Add to that the bullish defending of Coton skipper Nathan Boyce, built rather like a World War II pill-box on the Cornish coast, it was no surprise that the Robins’ offense was so markedly stifled. True there were lively moments by Nathan Corry, who would score for Knowle with a well placed header, and also Zak Harbon but visiting full-backs Matt Hill and Rich Hopkins tucked in when necessary and supported the central defenders with some accomplishment.

ELLIS: "I KNOW I HAVE TO KICK THIS THING BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO GET MY BOOT TO WORK..."

The visitors also had the tidy Eddie Wynne-Wilson in midfield, alongside the belligerent but impressively effective Pace, who was calm in possession but eager in the tackle. Central striker Curvin Ellis, scorer of the early goal was a big bugger and his bulk and ability on the ball were constant headaches for Lewis Cosgrove and Luke Fox in the home defence. Behind Ellis was Demetrius Smikle, another long-legged forward and his presence also disturbed, distressed and deflated the Robins. He was cautioned during the opening period when he and Knowle’s George Seeley slid in to contest a loose ball. Seeley was forced off the field with an injury, whilst Smikle received a canary coloured card for his role in the collision. Strangely though, Knowle had three players booked before the interval: Harbon for a lunge, Corey Powell, after Pace had missed his penalty and Ash Weeks, who made two uncontrolled challenges within four seconds on two different opponents to earn his comeuppance. 

LEI BROWN: I HAVE MORE IMAGES OF HIM FROWNING THAN ANYONE ELSE, I RECKON...

The first goal stemmed from a left-side free-kick and when it dipped at the near left post, the ball appeared to bounce on the back of left-winger Kyle Hayden’s neck, popping it up for the long right leg of swervin’ Curvin to lunge at and turn into the net from close range.

0-1, COURTESY OF SWERVIN' CURVIN...

Smikle shot low straight to Johnson, then struck a decent left-boot volley wide of the right stick, whilst Wynne-Wilson shot too high and Boyce dived to head a Pace free-kick wide of the left upright. The penalty came as a result of Pace taking a push in the back from Brown and he grabbed the ball to convert the spot-kick, only Johnson dived down to his right to make a good save. A loss of control by Weeks allowed Hayden a run through on goal too but the winger shot straight at the advancing Johnson. Weeks’ day would become more harrowing during the second period…

ELLIS: "JUST SHUT IT... IT'S NICE WHEN HE LINES ME UP, OK?"

SMIKLE CAUTIONED...

SEELEY'S TREATMENT TOOK A WHILE...

The hosts managed little offense before the recess, only a free-kick fired too high by Brandon Hague, a free-kick by Brown which bounced to Coton ‘keeper Brandon Bache and a 20 yard effort by Harbon which was blocked (leading to his foul challenge and yellow card) causing real trauma for the well drilled visiting defence. However, parity was regained when a smart left-footed cross from the right by Hague was met by the leaning Corry and his header flew into the left corner of the net, beating Bache all ends up.

1-1: CORRY HAS HEADED IN...

The opening period had been a real tussle and a real struggle for Knowle but the players trooped off to wash their hands, dust off their face-masks, nip to One Stop to buy a pack of bog-rolls, bags of rice, boxes of porridge, packs of kitchen rolls and then suck vitamin C from an orange, before reappearing. It’s what you do in a crisis…

NOT WEEKS' BEST DAY OUT...

MORE  KNOWLE CAUTIONS: POWELL THIS TIME, I BELIEVE...

...THEN HARBON, BUT THE LINO LOOKS POSITIVELY PIGGED OFF...

Surprisingly, Knowle found improvement tough to implement and it was Coton who really caught the eye in attack, for the previously fairly subdued Hayden and wing-partner Michael Wright began to add their abilities more consistently to those of Ellis and Smikle. Home skipper Steve Ruck, always dependable, struck a low shot from 27 yards just wide, Weeks drove well over the target, Powell tested Bache from 25 yards, Harbon had a shot blocked and Bache did well to scramble to the ground on his goal-line to save an effort by Corry. Visiting replacement Sheikh Mutarr Barrow found himself in a difficult situation when the ball bounced off him towards his own goal but his bicycle-kick clearance averted the danger. Home replacement John Flanagan fell under a challenge but no penalty was forthcoming, then Ruck drove the loose ball way too high. A late tackle by Corry earned him a caution but certainly Coton looked more confident, canny and crafty in attack, subsequently scoring twice more. 

BROWN: "WHAT'S HE LAUGHING AT?"

A fine centre from the right by Hill was met at the left upright by Wright, who beat the jumping Powell and carefully loop-headed the ball over Johnson and into the goal for 1-2.

MICHAEL WRIGHT SCORED, RIGHT?

Soon a Pace free-kick struck Knowle’s defensive wall but Smikle slipped as he struck a rebound effort which dribbled wide. An acute angled drive from the left by the troublesome Ellis forced Johnson to leap and flick the ball away for a corner, before Weeks handled a Coton Green centre. Wynne-Wilson drove the ensuing penalty low into the left corner of the net and the match was effectively over. 

WYNNE-WILSON'S PENALTY HAS EFFECTIVELY WON THE MATCH...

It remained only for two Coton replacements to fire in shots: Matt Murphy was denied by Cosgrove and Barrow by Fox but all three visiting substitutes played their parts, for Jayquarn Mullings made a couple of fine late tackles in the dying moments. 

REF: "QUIET... OR THIS FINGER GOES UP YOUR NOSE & I TOUCHED THE TOILET FLUSH WITH IT BEFORE THE 2ND HALF BEGAN..."

Thus Coton Green are now established in fourth place in Midland League 2, just behind Knowle, although Northfield Town suffered a surprise 4-5 defeat at home to Coventry Alvis on the same afternoon, to give hope to the chasers of Solihull United…

CORRY HAS BEEN BOOKED BUT HAS ALSO SCARPERED...

Boyce, McMenemy, Pace, Wynne-Wilson, Smikle and Ellis formed the spine of a strong outfit at this level and few teams will enjoy playing against them as the season runs down…

Knowle worked hard with little to show for it but replacement Curt Shiels was undaunted in midfield, Corry, Harbon and Hague never stopped working but on the day, Coton Green were in the ascendancy and saw the game through. 

Knowle were in a state of being dull and lethargic at times, showing, er, hebetude (a word I saw in a book about World War 1 on Friday; just wanted to use it once in my life…)

TEAMS:

KNOWLE FC:

CRAIG JOHNSON, COREY POWELL, STEVE RUCK (CAPT), ASH WEEKS, LEWIS COSGROVE, LUKE FOX, ZAK HARBON, GEORGE SEELEY, LEI BROWN, BRANDON HAGUE, NATHAN CORRY.

SUBS:

JORDAN HALL, NIALL ATTENBORROW, TOM CULLEN, CURT SHIELS, JOHN FLANAGAN.

COTON GREEN:

BRANDON BACHE, MATT HILL, RICH HOPKINS, RYAN PACE, LEIGHTON MCMENEMY, NATHAN BOYCE (CAPT), MICHAEL WRIGHT, EDDIE WYNNE-WILSON, CURVIN ELLIS, DEMETRIUS SMIKLE, KYLE HAYDEN.

SUBS:

SHEIKH MUTARR BARROW, MATT MURPHY, JAYQUARN MULLINGS.