FECKENHAM FC 0-1 KNOWLE FC: THE MATCH REPORT...

 Committed Robins Edge Out Resilient Millers…

Feckenham FC 0-1 Knowle FC

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

For the third pre-season game in a row for me, the result of a game was 1-0 and two cards were issued by referees; two reds at Ardley on Tuesday, then two yellows on Thursday at AFC Coventry Rangers and in this encounter too. All rather odd in pre-season… Perhaps the local football associations need more fines to bolster their coffers…

THE REF GIVES OUT A FREE KICK IN THE SHINS WITH EVERY BOOKING...

However, the newly formed Millers performed well against the visiting Robins who flew into Feckenham short of a number of absentees. Parking really was an issue in the historic village and the match was played upon the recreation ground which is supposed to lie above a hunting lodge from the time of King John. Indeed, the remains of a moat lie to one side of the soccer pitch…

"TOO HARSH, MY GOOD FELLOW..."

The game was well contested and although Knowle controlled a good portion of it, Feckenham came close to scoring four times in the closing stages, shooting just off target, heading too high and forcing Robins’ ‘keeper Ben Maxwell into two flying saves.

The only goal, scored after the interval, stemmed from some typical industry by Knowle’s number 9 Jack Mullen, then a short pass to the right by the creative Owen Ward and an overlap by Reece Staley. The defender stepped inside home midfielder Janny Dinanga before rifling a 25 yard left-footer which beat home goalie Adam Watson at his near post. 

STALEY'S STEELY LOOK (LEFT) AFTER SCORING...

There were some hard challenges during the game which subsequently led to a pair of cautions, for Feckenham’s Tom Lowe and Knowle’s Mullen. However, it appeared that both management teams would have seen enough to please them on the day, for the tussle was often tight.

Jack Mullen… 

The Knowle striker’s performance alone was worth attending the match for… 

TO MULLEN, THREE DEFENDERS AROUND HIM MEANT THAT THEY WERE MERELY TENPIN SKITTLES TO BE MOWN DOWN...

He reminded me of ‘real centre-forwards’ I grew up watching, such as Andy Gray at Villa, who never gave defenders a moment of peace. Mullen harassed, shoved, fought, challenged and didn’t once give up on any sniff of possession. He was quick enough and dangerous enough but his industry was awesome on such a warm afternoon and I said to him after the game had finished, “If that’s how you play in pre-season, what are you like in a league match?” He just smiled and mumbled something about actually scoring in a league game… 

I was entertained by the front man’s effort and ability… Watch out, Midland League 2…

The close-calls for the teams…

Strangely, Mullen wasn’t the player who went closest to scoring for Knowle. One of his shots, following an assist by trialist Hamza Siddique, flew over the target and another effort from 18 yards on the turn forced a save diving left from Watson.

"THAT PIKE I CAUGHT WAS THIS BIG..."
"GET LOST MATE, IT WAS THIS BIG..."

Indeed it was the elusive Jacob Walton, who on another day might have slotted a hat-trick, who threatened Feckenham the most. First, following a long pass up the right touchline by Siddique, his low angled shot was stopped by the falling Watson, then after the break, his flicked header rebounded from the Millers’ crossbar. Later, a smart piece of play by Siddique saw a pass threaded at inside-left for Walton but Watson again saved well as he advanced from goal.

Knowle’s Staley shot too high early on but later miscued on the right following a fine jinking run across the field by Siddique whose clever lifted pass had put Staley in. Shots by both Siddique and replacement ‘Marlo’, wearing 17 were both well off target.

COSGROVE NOT ONLY MARSHALLS HIS TEAM BUT YESSIR HE CAN BOOGIE...
SERIOUSLY THOUGH, YOU CAN IMAGINE HIM AS A FUTURE TEAM MANAGER...

For the hosts, striker Joe Tolley fired wide of the left stick from a decent position at inside-right in the opening 45, then late on, a draw or even a victory might have been clawed out by the Millers. First, midfielder Tom Ferguson drove a shot from downtown only just wide of the right angle of post and crossbar, Dave Phelan somehow headed over the crossbar from close range, albeit at full stretch and two excellent drives by Danny Murphy forced fine tip-over saves by the alert Maxwell who confirmed the Robins’ victory with a decisive punch clear from a corner in the final moments.

The final words…

Clearly Murphy is an established forward at higher levels and he bolstered the Millers well but somehow it was a team ethic which kept the team alive for much of the match, despite relinquishing a good deal of possession to their guests. Jack Nichols showed a few flashes of ability on the ball, as did midfielder Dinanga and in truth the home defence was often sound.

THE REF EXPLAINS SOMETHING IN SEMAPHORE, DESPITE FORGETTING HIS FLAGS...

The Robins played at a quick tempo throughout, urged on by their very solid skipper Lewis Cosgrove, alongside the eager Jack Ricketts and vociferous right-back Christian McArdle who in fact never really shut up at all and even wanted to do a post-match interview… I will hold him to that if he plays in a league match I attend soon…

Apart from Mullen and Walton, I liked the danger sometimes caused by Zak Parsons who played with almost a frown but also with real intent. Ward though, well supported by the busy Dylan Bennett, was probably pleased to have been afforded so much room in midfield to practise his switch-passing and much of that was very accurate, freeing Staley on the left a number of times before the goalscorer changed wings. He also gets the assist for Staley’s winning goal, of course…

"IT'S ALL RIGHT NUMBER 5, I KNOW IT'S YOUR BALL AND YOU ARE EXPECTED HOME FOR TEA BUT WE DO HAVE A MATCH TO FINISH HERE..."

Trialist Siddique, reacting to a variety of advisory calls from team-mates, as well as several pats on the back, worked rather harder than even he might have expected but despite a couple of knocks, he wanted more and more of the action. His movement in possession was smart on occasions and he took on opponents both right and left and although it was clear that he was new to the starting line-up, there was enough evidence to show that his potential, his physical size for his age and his often intelligent use of the ball could be an asset to any team at this level or maybe higher… 

THE REF SHOWS HIS INVISIBLE LITTLE CAMERA TO BENNETT...

Thanks to Matt Seeley from Knowle and Matt Phillips from Feckenham for providing me with the names and numbers of their players after the end of the game but apologies to those players I wasn’t sure of during the commentary! 

SQUADS:

FECKENHAM FC:

ADAM WATSON, JOE FRAMPTON, TOM LOWE, KEV INGRAM, CIAN ADDAMS, BEN COX, JANNY DINANGA, WILL SKELTON, JACK NICHOLLS, JOE TOLLEY, TOM FERGUSON, NICK POOLE, DAVE PHELAN, RYAN DIPPLE, DANNY MURPHY.

KNOWLE FC:

BEN MAXWELL, CHRISTIAN MCARDLE, REECE STALEY, JACK RICKETTS, LEWIS COSGROVE (CAPT), DYLAN BENNETT, HAMZA SIDDIQUE, OWEN WARD, JACK MULLEN, ZAK PARSONS, JACOB WALTON, GEORGE SEELEY, ASH WEEKS.