KNOWLE FC 1-1 CADBURY ATHLETIC: THE MOWDOG'S MATCH REPORT...

 Stalemate Favours Neither Team…

Knowle FC 1-1 Cadbury Athletic

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

THE TOSS & SEELEY (RIGHT) IS AMUSED BY SOMETHING OR OTHER...

There was a lot at stake for both teams during a sunny evening on the Hampton Road in Knowle. In the end, both teams netted once, courtesy of their respective skippers, both teams missed a splendid chance to score again but those opportunities were spurned. Certainly the guests finished the encounter more strongly than their hosts, who had Christian McArdle to thank for a fine block of a late Cadbury shot to secure one point for his club.

IMPRESSIVE KINDNESS BY CADBURY'S SYRUS WARREN-PAUL...

Indeed, Knowle’s Lewis Clarke performed splendidly in the home defence, not often being bettered by Athletic’s tall striker Kedeiah Warren-Paul. Second period replacement Taylor Homer livened up the visitors somewhat and he threatened the Knowle goal three times during the latter stages when the tension was palpable around the Robins Nest… 

LEWIS CLARKE: DEFENSIVELY VERY GOOD...

Players might have been working during the day and to play such a high profile game after a hard day was harsh on them but the spectacle didn’t lack effort or commitment. The individual skills were usually spotted emanating from the left boot of Robins’ Umit Eminoglu, whilst Ethan Hanks’ efforts for Cadbury were often noticeable.

Knowle’s attack…

An early goal for the hosts arrived following some clever wing-play by Eminoglu, who tricked Hanks a couple of times and clipped in an accurate right-booted delivery, which was glanced on by Jack Mullen’s head. George Seeley reacted quickest to the deviation and lunged forth to nod the ball into the right side of the net past a leaping Fraser Oliver from nine yards, with three Cadbury defenders around him… 

1-0...

The busy and vociferous Seeley volleyed a shot from downtown too high and challenged for two more offensive headers, as well as shooting low at Oliver on a second period counter-attack. Clarke was clearly going to be a threat at set-pieces for Knowle but the nearest he came to causing a goal was when his second-half header bounced off colleague Nathan Corry into Oliver’s arms.

IT'S CLEAR WHERE THE BALL MIGHT BE...

Mullen will rue his missed opportunity after the break, for he really was offered a clear opportunity perhaps to win the match. Neat play by effective home right-back Lewis Rainey led to Corry slipping through at inside-right, before squaring a pass to the far post, where Mullen waited, unmarked. Visiting skipper Myles Brooks was defending the goal-line as Mullen stretched with his unfavoured left boot from a couple of yards out, only to lift the ball over the crossbar.

THE REF UPSETS MULLEN BY REMINDING HIM OF THE CHANCE HE MISSED. UNLESS HE'S BEING TOLD OFF FOR A BAD CHALLENGE...

A few corners came to nought for Knowle, as Cadbury’s defence held firm, with Brooks and long-thrower number two Syrus Warren-Paul, always prominent. Striker Wade Malley, long-thrower number one, had been substituted after the interval due to an injury, perhaps to a groin.

Cadbury’s forward offerings…

It took a while for the visitors to settle but they regained parity before long during the opening 45 and then missed a fantastic chance to take the lead before half-time. First, a neat pass by Malley to the right-flank found Hanks, whose centre was jumped for by Kedeiah Warren-Paul and Clarke but the ball evaded both and was smuggled over the goal-line at the left stick by Brooks, who managed to hold off Rainey’s challenge.

1-1...

The industrious Jeson Dinanga had already shot wide of the right pole, Hanks then shot a free-kick too high but soon Cadbury were awarded a spot-kick for a trip. Hanks took responsibility for the penalty shot but home custodian Craig Johnson leapt left to make a mighty save.

JOHNSON'S PENALTY SAVE...

During the second period, a Jack McGinn delivery from deep forced a tip-over save from Johnson, Syrus Warren-Paul drove too high and Kedeiah Warren-Paul powered an effort way off target. However, Homer, the substitute really did threaten Knowle, having a couple of shots deflected wide, driving another past a post but he then so nearly scored from the inside-left channel, his low effort apparently being gloved by the diving Johnson and touched wide of the far stick.

O'DONNELL MARKS SEELEY...

Another Athletic replacement, Tom Craine drove a good chance wide late in the match and that left McArdle’s subsequent block, also from Craine, to set the seal on a draw for the Robins.

KEDEIAH WARREN-PAUL FINDS A DECISION AMUSING...

The final words… 

A draw then and a point apiece but outsiders Cadbury need the three clubs above them to fail majorly in their final games, whilst third-placed Knowle have a match in hand over second-placed AFC Coventry Rangers. A win in that match at Alcester on 3rd May would leave the Robins only a point behind their rivals and then, unbelievably, they play each other at Hampton Road on the 6th May in the season’s finale…

EMINOGLU, RIGHT: SHOWED SMART TOUCHES...

Interesting then, that a contingent from Rangers watched this Knowle v Cadbury game and in truth, a draw was the best outcome they could have wished for…

Much of the above game was hurried, understandably and the ball was in the air a great deal and there seemed no time for anyone to dwell in possession. Homer, Eminoglu, Cadbury’s Adam Bourne and Hanks were all decent ball-carriers but finishing-wise, neither outfit was able to cause the two goal-tenders much consternation.

An enjoyable watch in some ways and the tension was evident…

It really was…