KNOWLE FC 4-0 COVENTRIANS: THE MOWDOG'S REPORT & SOME IMAGES WITH CAPTIONS...

 Robins Power To Victory Over Plucky Coventrians…

Knowle FC 4-0 Coventrians

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

A convincing victory for Knowle, despite not being at full strength, although I have no idea whether Coventrians, playing their opening match in League 2 after promotion, had all of their squad available either…

The stubborn visitors, for whom goalie Josh Richards played so well, finally conceded a couple of goals just prior to the interval, when defender Ben Jones nodded them ahead and wily, tricky striker Jay Rendell took an assist from Jones to add a second goal.

Oddly, Coventrians began the second period strongly but were undone by two goals which again arrived as a pair, by Rendell again and the Robins’ skipper George Seeley with a plunging header.

Richards was often tested by Knowle but home gloveman Reiss Jeavons was only seriously troubled by a very late Romano Graham effort, which the advancing ‘keeper stopped, although in that instance a left-footer by Graham might have proved more decisive than his slightly awkward right-booter…

Apart from Richards, the tall Coventrians defender Jordan Palmer played very well in a losing cause, naturally making headers and tackles but also passing the ball out from defence with calm confidence. Set-piece guy Josh Bates was unable to find the head of Palmer on three occasions however with offensive free-kicks, although the defender did fly through the air to volley well over the target with a boot. Bates’ final free-kick was missed by all and dropped only just past an upright in the closing moments of the contest.

Occasional moments by Graham, the odd dashes by Craig Williams and Colins Ajayi kept the home defence on its toes but in truth, Guy Clark and Jones were stout in their roles for Knowle, as well as looking dangerous at offensive set-pieces.

The Knowle attacks…

Before the opening goals, Richards kept out Rendell with a tackle, Clark planted headers wide and high before the excellent Owain Taylor dribbled through, only to fail to test Richards with a decent shot.

Liam O’Donnell fired wide, then Taylor’s free-kick from downtown was smartly tipped over the crossbar by Richards, who made a better tip-over from a fine close-range Clark header.

The game was effectively won by the recess however, for Taylor’s left-wing flag-kick had been powerfully headed into the net at the far post by Jones, one of three Robins lined up to jump against two opponents, before a Taylor free-kick from deep right was collected by Jones beyond the far stick and passed to Rendell who lashed a left-footer over the helpless Richards into the top left corner of goal.  

1-0...

2-0...

The response by Coventrians after the break…

The guests couldn’t be faulted for effort and after Palmer’s volley had risen over the target, a Graham shot was deflected wide. Graham had seen an 18 yard effort caught by Jeavons early in the game too.

Tempers became slightly frayed and a few yellow cards were displayed by the referee, one to Knowle’s coach Matt Seeley but cousin George escaped a caution throughout, hilariously even asking a fallen enemy player if he was all right, as the player writhed on the ground. 

Knowle down the stretch and their other two goals…

Richards saved one-on-one against Nathan Corry, Rendell volleyed too high, Corry blasted a narrow-angle effort past the near post, before Seeley slipped the ball left to Rendell from the 18 yard line and the forward swept a neat first-time 16 yarder round Richards and deep into the right side of the net for 3-0. 

3-0...

After Richards booted a Corry shot away and before Rendell volleyed wide, the fourth goal arrived for Seeley, a reward no doubt for the concern displayed for an opponent, as mentioned above and his jolly pat on the poor chap’s shoulder. He pointed towards the near post as Taylor was about to curl in another dangerous free-kick from the left flank. Both he and Rendell beat the offside line but the ball skimmed over the striker’s leap for Seeley behind him to launch himself forth like he was performing a quarterback sneak for the Detroit Lions and thump a header past Richards into the bottom left corner of the net. 

4-0...

The final words…   

Certainly Coventrians showed some midfield bite, whilst Aidan Blackhall partnered Palmer at the back with some success, although it was clear that some of the players felt hard done by when several free-kicks were awarded to Knowle. Kearno Brown-Jones & Maradoche Mipro were combative but subsequently, Knowle’s League 2 experience trumped the efforts of the visitors’ newly formed crew.

It will surely improve for the Coventry team, as the players bed in…

The impressive Lewis Rainey was injured during the match for the hosts, Dylan Bennett was his usual busy self in the trenches and of course Rendell excelled with his overall contribution and brace of goals.

I liked the cameo by Jack Mullen too, who is a tough forward, well suited to battles with more robust central defenders…

So, the Robins are off and running with their first three points in a division which could well be fascinating again this term…

Images...

THE ATTACKING RIGHT-BACK RAINEY (2): HURT DURING THE GAME...

WARM EVENING OR MAYBE CHECKING THE HAIR...

SEELEY: "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT MY GOOD MAN? MAY I HELP YOU UP?" YEAH, RIGHT...

"ARE YOU HAVING A LAUGH, REF?"
REF: "NO, ACTUALLY..."

GOOD SAMARITAN SEELEY HAS BEEN CRUELLY, ER, SIMPLY KNOCKED OVER.
BUT A CAUTION FOR AJAYI??? REALLY???

PALMER, RIGHT: A STRONG GAME FOR COVENTRIANS...

THAT'S CONNOR DEARDS ON THE RIGHT.
HE DECORATES...