The Mowdog On The Road...: KNOWLE FC 6-1 BALSALL & BERKSWELL: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT + IMAGES...

Hornets Pecked By Insistent Robins…

Knowle FC 6-1 Balsall & Berkswell

(Birmingham FA Saturday Vase, Round 1…)

NEARLY DRESSED, SEELEY AWAITS THE TOSS...

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Midland League 3 visitors Balsall were bundled out of the Vase competition by a strong and effective Knowle outfit, although at the interval the Robins led only by 2-1. That was due in no small measure to the performance of Hornets’ ‘keeper George Gane and also courtesy of some shooting profligacy by the hosts. A penalty for the guests as the break neared came against the run of play but Jack Archer managed to squeeze his spot-kick past Craig Johnson into the bottom left corner of goal. Johnson’s early afternoon outing was rarely taxing though, in truth.

2-1...

Four goals after half-time confirmed the League 2 Robins’ authority but how central striker Jay Rendell failed to register a hat-trick was something of a mystery. His first period brace had placed his team in a commanding position until Archer scored for the visitors but when Lewis Clarke nodded goal three and Rendell’s centre was turned into his own net by Balsall defender Taylor Whitt, the game was way beyond the Hornets’ reach.

It remained only for Nathan Corry to score a lovely fifth goal, then scrapping midfielder Liam O’Donnell to poach a sixth and the game was done. Credit to Balsall for their attitude and unwillingness to throw in the towel and indeed replacement James Dunn made a couple of important late interceptions to prevent further damage. He had replaced the inimitable Tommy Atkins, who had just returned on leave from the Somme trenches to play in this tie. He found it tough in the Knowle trenches too against the power, pace and proficiency of home forward Rendell…

Jay Rendell…

Two assists by skipper George Seeley brought a brace of first-half goals for the eager striker. He latched onto one pass at inside-left, turned defender Lewis Campton and drilled the ball low inside the near stick past a helpless Gane for 1-0.

1-0...

Goal two stemmed from another incisive Seeley assist but this time from inside-right and the shot bulleted past the flailing Gane from 12 yards…

2-0...

Rendell also forced Gane into a low save before the break and midfielder Owain Taylor was denied a rebound shot by Campton and his ‘keeper, who smothered the shot between them. Rendell curled an effort wide and forced another low save from Gane, following good play by Adam Bourn.

Post half-time, Rendell shot too high, forced Gane to save comfortably a couple of times and then he could not believe how twice in a matter of seconds, the Hornets prevented him from netting his hat-trick goal. He was sent clear at inside-right by Reece Staley who had moved into midfield for the latter stages of the match but Rendell’s powerful drive was splendidly saved by Gane’s outstretched glove, offering the striker a juicy rebound chance which was struck hard and low but incredibly the ball struck the boot of Whitt on the goal-line, his wits being about him, and ricocheted against the crossbar, looped upwards and dropped conveniently into Gane’s grateful hands. Crazy stuff…

Rendell provided two assists though, first by cutting a swathe through five defenders at 18 yards, reaching the right byeline and squaring the ball towards the unmarked and lurking Corry. However, Whitt got there first and couldn’t help but turn the ball over his own goal-line for 4-1…

4-1...

The sixth and final goal was scored by O’Donnell, courtesy of Rendell’s left-flank rush from deep but perhaps the striker was offside when the pass from defence was made to him… However, Rendell passed the ball into the 18 yard box and O’Donnell had no trouble in converting past a hopelessly exposed Gane.

6-1...

Rendell ran, challenged and competed until the final whistle, despite the scoreline, so huge credit must go to him for a fine performance…

Yes, there was more offense created by the Robins too…

Before the break, a Seeley free-kick was dealt with low by Gane, Rob Shaw miscued a header at goal and Clarke shot wide on the turn from the ensuing loose ball. Clarke, the tall Knowle defender, headed wide of the left vertical, as did Corry soon afterwards, beforeTaylor nudged an effort past a post at full stretch, then Gane saved his low shot smartly from the inside-right position. Corry also misheaded a decent Bourn centre and Gane smothered to clear.

As the opening period ended, Bourn was clearly held back by Campton on the left byeline but no penalty was awarded and the forward’s low centre was scrambled clear.

After the recess, Taylor’s left-wing corner was met by Clarke’s downward header from 3 yards out and Gane had conceded a third goal, then both Bourn, twice, and Seeley shot off target.

3-1...

However, the busy and defence-irritating Corry netted goal five when he latched onto Taylor’s pass in space on the right-flank and once again Knowle had penetrated Balsall’s defensive line. Corry looked calm as he moved inside unchallenged and his rather sublime curling left-footer was finely judged and entered the far side of the net just below the angle of crossbeam and vertical post… Nice… The spectators to my left expressed their admiration with a gushing, gravelly exhalation of sound…

5-1...

The Hornets in attack…

Lucas Van Spelde clipped a left-footer from downtown too high before the break, then Archer netted his spot-kick, before Johnson shoved a near post cross by Van Spelde against the outside of the upright and out for a corner. Late in the half Archer shot a free-kick way too high.

During the second 45, Johnson turned aside a low cross from the left byeline by Archer, skipper Daniel May’s glancing header from Archer’s assist drifted well wide and Harry Dunn’s shot from distance curled behind the right angle of post and bar but really the Hornets found the going rather tough against the Robins…

The final words…

Archer looked bright in attack for the guests, despite having to chase passes played long very often but both Harry Dunn and Van Spelde showed glimpses of form too. Ryan Cranage was combative in midfield and earned a caution from referee Kev Carroll but he worked his butt off for the team. Campton was industrious at right-back but the Balsall defence as a whole found the runs of Rendell, Bourn, Seeley and Corry difficult to manage.

Knowle could afford to have Dylon Bennett, Joe Riddiford and Christian McArdle on the bench for this game and of course the fresh legs subsequently made life even more awkward for the ailing Hornets.

Staley was hardworking for the hosts and enjoyed his move into midfield later in the match, shooting wide from a good position and so nearly finding Rendell with a pass, only for James Dunn to read it well and deny the striker his third goal. Bourn grew into the match and some of his touches were very decent…

Knowle are strong at their level, with defenders Ben Jones and Shaw both contributing well on the day alongside the usually reliable Clarke.

However, several other players weren’t on duty at all…

Images...