KNOWLE FC 1-0 SUTTON UNITED... (Saturday Vase County Cup Final, BCFA Excellence Arena, Birmingham...) THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT, HONEST MATCH REPORT...

 Staley & O’Neil-Martin Ensure Cup Win For Robins…

Knowle FC 1-0 Sutton United

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This was a tense battle at the BCFA Excellence Arena in Birmingham, eventually won by a cool Kartel O’Neil-Martin-Tiago spot-kick in the dying embers of the tie. The goal ensured that Knowle received a just reward for their offensive superiority, although Sutton goalie Reiss Wagstaff certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing team. 

SUNSHINE TOSSING...

Wagstaff made several saves to keep his group in the match but offensively, United failed to ignite against a Robins’ defence featuring the immense Lewis Clarke and current TV star Perry Mason, masquerading as Knowle skipper Christian McCardle. Robins’ goalie Craig Johnson will rarely spend an easier 90 minutes, for apart from weak shots by Remi Bell and Aaron Evans, Sutton looked decidedly tame in attack during the opening 45. 

BELL, MCCARDLE, CLARKE & HINES...

A first-half Joe Delaney free-kick from downtown struck Knowle’s defensive wall and a second period looping near post header onto the roof of the net by replacement Matty Hurrell were the best moments for United, in truth. Until his substitution, Sutton central defender Lewis James had slung in a few long throws but Clarke had managed to deal with those comfortably in the main.

JAMES & SEMLALI (8) HAVE WORDS WITH THE REF...

Knowle began in a belligerent mood and never really seemed fatigued, urged on by their excellent midfielders Dylan Bennett, the game’s official MVP Reece Staley and the inventive, relaxed and visionary Tiago, er, O’Neil-Martin who for me, as the game’s only scorer too, was eye-catching in the extreme.

O'NEIL-MARTIN: KINDA TIAGO-LIKE...

The tight opening period offered few goalscoring chances but after the interval, Knowle turned the screw and really ought to have been two or three goals ahead before the referee awarded them a disputed spot-kick in the final minute or so, which prevented the lottery of a penalty shootout…

"SURELY NO PENALTY?"

REF: "YEP, & A CAUTION FOR YOU, DONALD..."

Sutton’s performance…

Errors were made, Leyton Hines in attack was offered poor service throughout and only the industrious, space-finding Aaron Evans really caused Knowle any difficulties at all. Evans picked up possession on many occasions but Bell, Hines and Delaney were generally well shackled by Clarke, skipper Perry Mason and Lewis Rainey.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING PERRY MASON ON TV VERY RECENTLY AND CHRISTIAN MCCARDLE REMINDED ME A LITTLE OF THE ACTOR...

In midfield the talented Yousef Semlali was often on the fringes of the action, whilst skipper Josh Duggan was swamped by the snapping tackles of the Knowle playmakers. 

SORTING STUFF OUT...

Sutton had a tough afternoon in the Brum sunshine, as Tiago ran patterns, Staley surged and Perry Mason drove his team on…

The Knowle offense…  

Before the break an early mistake between Sutton’s Semlali and James allowed the dangerous and hardworking Nathan Corry to get a clear run at goal but Wagstaff advanced to save well with a lower limb. Corry drove across the face of an open net and a surging O’Neil-Martin-Tiago saw his angled effort from inside-right blocked by the United gloveman.

ABOVE & BELOW: DR CALLUM BURSTONTHESCENE-KEELEY ADMINISTERS HIS VOODOO MEDICINE, WHILST BENNETT (BELOW) LOOKS AT ME SYMPATHETICALLY...

During a dominant second period though, the Robins created a plethora of opportunities and the first three fell to Corry, before he was taken out of the line-up with a facial injury, resulting from the third of his chances.

Corry latched onto the ball in space 7 yards from goal, following clever play by replacement Taylor Blythe and an assist by Jack Mullen, who got better as the tie wore on. Somehow though, Wagstaff flung himself at Corry’s effort and diverted it out of play, to the striker’s chagrin.

Knowle left-back Hayden Seymour soon hounded United defender Kaine Donald at the left byeline and won possession, then set up Corry for a 10 yard drive, which rebounded from the left upright, with Wagstaff, for once, beaten.

ER, IT'S BEHIND YOU...

Then finally, a smart right-flank centre by the wandering Tiago found the head of the leaping Corry but Wagstaff, a trifle late, thrust out a fist, catching Corry on the nose and the ball flew over the crossbeam. Corry was knocked flat but the referee awarded a corner to Knowle, not as most folks suspected, a penalty for the Robins… Incensed, the Knowle dugout said lots of words like, “Gosh…” and “Good heavens, should that not have been a penalty, referee, my good man?”

CORRY IS HURT...

Corry was led away in a state but Knowle simply shrugged off the dispute and pushed on…

Skipper Perry Mason made a fine rush from defence, then he was denied at the right post by a brave Wagstaff save, before he hooked an effort wide of the near post, from Bennett’s right-side centre. Clarke headed too high, as the Robins pressed, O’Neil-Martin-Tiago’s low shot was slowed by Donald’s lunge and rolled to Wagstaff, before Staley exchanged passes with O’Neil-Martin-Tiago and fell as he brushed past Donald. The main official awarded Knowle a last-gasp penalty and whilst Sutton complained bitterly, O’Neil-Martin-Tiago flipped the ball casually in his hands, as if his mates on the beach had strolled off to the bar to fetch him a pint.

Subsequently, the ease of O’Neil-Martin-Tiago’s spot-kick was there for all to witness as he casually beat the excellent Wagstaff left of centre, as the custodian fell the other way. The game was effectively won and it remained only for Wagstaff to hammer a long kick forwards which drifted out for a Knowle goal-kick and for Duggan to foul Bennett, who dropped like a floppy toy to win a free-kick and end the contest.

GOAL CELEBRATED...

The final words…

Thanks to the staff at Ray Hall Lane who allowed me to film from the gantry, which was accessible via a long ladder. It was a good test for my hip replacement… Not a problem though.

LIKED THE GANTRY...

Knowle deserved to take the trophy and it appeared that Sutton displayed some respect at the finish by lingering before exiting the pitch. Sutton had won Midland League 2, Knowle had finished third behind AFC Coventry Rangers and had also secured two trophies. That Division had been competitive all season and will likely be good to watch next term too.

ABOVE & BELOW: RAINEY & CORRY CAUTIONED...

Plaudits then go to Clarke, despite one missed challenge when a colleague in attack had lost possession, for his overall defensive ability was a real bonus for the Robins, alongside HBO TV’s Perry Mason, a very decent skipper.

Loved the O’Neil-Martin-Tiago contribution and that of Staley, who was so energetic and effective for the entire 90 minutes. Mullen contributed well later in the match but Corry must have wondered how he had failed to score…

MCCARDLE & CLARKE: DESERVING...

Well done to Knowle and the victory would have pleased Robins all over the world…

I heard that.

I really did…