COTON GREEN 1-2 KNOWLE FC: THE MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

 Blue Robins’ Resilience Overcomes Red Greens’ Pluckiness

Coton Green 1-2 Knowle FC

This match began keenly for Coton, with central striker Michael Wright’s movement valuable and the foraging runs of left-back Anton Astley forcing Knowle into a lack-lustre opening quarter-hour. Green’s other forward, Scott Rickards was soon injured though, as was Astley and both were replaced well before the interval which, along with some refereeing which frustrated players and coaches alike, severely affected the outcome of the proceedings.

THE TOSSING OF ELBOWS...

Eight bookings (I reckon) were dished out by the main official, to Lewis Cosgrove, Steve Ruck and Tom Cullen of Knowle, whilst Harry Reece, Rich Munday, Wright, skipper Leighton McMenemy and late on, Coton’s bright and inventive midfielder Dom Oliver were shown yellow cards for the hosts. Maybe Cosgrove was unfortunate to be cautioned so early, for Robins’ Jack Moss had already escaped punishment for similar crimes but once the official had set out his stall, more bookings followed. Thus the scrappy nature of the first period with free-kicks littering the half, plus substitutions and delays during treatment for hurt players, added to the poor flow of the match and caused the encounter to appear gritty and something to endure, rather than being creative and pleasing to the eye.

WRIGHT IS BOOKED...

REECE IS CAUTIONED...

BOOKING FOR MUNDAY, ON SATURDAY...

YELLOW FOR MCMENEMY...

BOOKING FOR COSGROVE...

Few opportunities were created during the opening 45 and indeed Coton managed only a back-header by Rich Hopkins onto the roof of the Knowle net from a right-side throw, a 20 yard free-kick (Coton Green claimed this ought to have been a spot-kick) by Kofi Durham which flew just too high and a Wright drive which was straight at Knowle gloveman Craig Johnson. The guests, when they finally shook off their initial lethargy, responded with runs by Brandon Hague, who rolled a shot wide of the right stick from Louis Bridges’ assist, saw another effort blocked and was sent crashing to the ground when he collided with a defender and home goalie Brandon Bache 20 yards from goal, again from a Bridges assist. Bridges then won a corner when the ball ricocheted loose but Hague’s injury would force him off at half-time. Skipper Ruck skied a shot way too high from Bridges’ pass, defender Luke Fox rose well for three unrewarded headers and Bache almost spilled a Zak Harbon centre over his goal-line, before dropping on it like he was nabbing a particularly slippery garden mole with a sack.

SMITH HAS JUST HEARD A RECORDING OF HIS INITIATION SONG...

"I'M NOT MOVING UNTIL YOU LET ME SEE SOMETHING YELLOW..."

"PLEASE DON'T SEND ME OFF REF, IT'LL MAKE MY HEADACHE WORSE..."

HAGUE IS HOPING FOR A PART IN A NEW WORLD WAR 1 TRENCH MOVIE...

So, half-time arrived, Knowle’s Cosgrove had marshalled his defence well enough, Fox had been generally immovable, Harbon had become more of a threat and Bridges had built offensive, er, bridges for his team, although goalie Johnson had been largely untroubled. For the hosts, Joe (Liam Gallacher soundalike) Smith had been industrious in the trenches of midfield, Munday and McMenemy had defended stoutly enough, Bache had looked confident between the verticals, with Durham often adventurous from right-back but certainly Oliver had proven to be a fine passer with neat skills, almost showing belligerence in his play. He struck the ball sweetly usually, something not seen too often at this level. He found space too and he would find even more during the second period…

IS THE REF REALLY VAPING?

Coton benefited from a decent second 45 by replacement striker Demi Smikle, whose size and pace became galling for the Knowle defence and surely on another day, the forward would have netted. He knocked a header upwards but to goalie Johnson, fired wide of the left stick, then low to the ‘keeper, before smacking two good drives, one just past the right angle of crossbar and post and another too high from Oliver’s pass. Oliver lifted a 25 yard free-kick way over the bar like he was successfully converting a try for the Exeter Chiefs, whilst Wright, still eager and unselfish, shot a wayward effort well off target from inside-right.

BRIDGES LOOKS TOTALLY COMMITTED...

A powerful header by Munday flew awry and really lively replacement Jack Doak turned swiftly to shoot only just wide of the upper reaches of the left stick but the substitute would strike a fine consolation goal in the closing moments however, as Coton finished the half strongly. Certainly the game had changed when Bridges scored for Knowle but in truth, the visitors weren’t overly offensive during the latter period. A deep free-kick was nodded upwards by Cosgrove and there was The Sniffer, Bridges, to lift a close range shot from the left side of the 6 yard box and Bache could only stare daggers at it, as it dropped into the far corner of the net. Cue delight for Mr Bridges…

CELEBRATION...

Bridges did scramble another shot into goal but there had been a foul in the lead-up to the incident, then Cullen nodded just too high but subsequently, from a defensive situation, Fox won possession and simply ran forwards from downtown, before laying off a pass left to substitute Charlie Griffiths. Bridges made a run through the centre but Griffiths turned inside and deposited a low shot towards the near post and Bache’s flailing right glove was unable to prevent the shot from entering the net, despite changing its direction upwards. 0-2 and surely the game was settled…

MORE CHEER FOR KNOWLE...

However, despite a fine Powell run for Knowle which ended with a one-two and a shot straight at Bache, it was the hosts who finished the stronger, with Oliver, Doak, Smith and Smikle particularly involved. Twice Harbon made defensive challenges for Knowle, as the hosts threatened but eventually, they achieved a reward. Splendidly, Smikle ran from deep to the right byeline and his waist-high centre dropped perfectly for the poorly marked Doak to strike comfortably, calmly and confidently on the half-volley with his left shoe from 13 yards and the ball flew sweetly and low into the right side of the net. A good goal…

GOAL FOR DOAK...

However, despite a real effort, Coton were unable to regain parity and the relieved Robins were a-rockin’ at the final whistle…

USEFUL FORWARDS: SMIKLE & WRIGHT...

POWELL & WRIGHT...

HOPKINS & OLIVER...

DURHAM WATCHES BRIDGES BOOGIE...

The second period had become more intense as it continued, so that most spectators began to enjoy the entertainment more but Oliver stood out for Coton, for the reasons mentioned above, Smikle had been a handful too and Doak and Smith had carried threats, supported by the right-flank rushes of Durham. Knowle’s Cosgrove, however, alongside Fox, remained steady and saw out the final minutes, as Moss, George Seeley and Bridges continued to battle for their team.

A good welcome from Coton Green, for which I thank them but this match proved how competitive Midland League 2 will be this term, with so much more to come…

TEAMS:

COTON GREEN:

BRANDON BACHE, KOFI DURHAM, ANTON ASTLEY, HARRY REECE, RICH MUNDAY, LEIGHTON MCMENEMY (CAPT), JOE SMITH, DOM OLIVER, MICHAEL WRIGHT, SCOTT RICKARDS, RICH HOPKINS.

SUBS:

JACK DOAK, LEWIS BOURNE, DANIEL WAIN, DEMI SMIKLE, MATT HILL. 

KNOWLE FC:

CRAIG JOHNSON, COREY POWELL, STEVE RUCK (CAPT), JACK MOSS, LEWIS COSGRAVE, LUKE FOX, ZAK HARBON, TOM CULLEN, LEWIS BRIDGES, GEORGE SEELEY, BRANDON HAGUE.

SUBS:

ROB ORMSTON, NATHAN CORRY, CHARLIE GRIFFITHS, NICK OAKLEY, JOE SINTON.