KNOWLE FC 7-0 FECKENHAM FC: THE MOWDOG'S MATCH REPORT + MORE IMAGES...

 Millers Sacked By Dominant Robins…

READY FOR TOSSING THE COIN...

Knowle FC 7-0 Feckenham FC

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

There was no ceremony by Midland League 2 leaders Knowle as the players dominated their Division 3 guests from Feckenham, who managed only three goalscoring chances throughout the 90 minutes. One of those came at only 1-0 however but home goalie Craig Johnson saved Josh Bowen’s angled drive smartly enough. Johnson, although redundant for the majority of the contest was alert again to block a second period close-range headed attempt by Miller Lucas Cooke, whilst substitute Will Skelton skied a decent free-kick chance late in the proceedings for the visitors.

Toby Scott was instrumental in the Robins’ creativity department, calmly supported by the effective Dylan Bennett and the hard working Liam O’Donnell. However, the robust and physical Jack Mullen relished his deep lying forward role for the hosts, his strong approach winning duels on a number of occasions.

Home striker Jay Rendell was a problem for the Millers to mark and sidekick Nathan Corry, who netted, er, an unusual goal, caused some confusion for the visiting defence on occasions too.

There was no doubt about the final outcome by half-time, with the Robins coasting at 3-0 ahead but although the second 45 was scrappy for a while, George Seeley was released into the action to demolish the opponents with a quick-time hat-trick. He always seems to score when I watch Knowle…  

The Robins’ offense in the opening half…

Before Mullen scored goal one, Scott had seen a shot blocked and Mullen himself had driven an effort straight at the Millers’ gloveman David Gorton. In between the first two goals, a Rendell effort was deflected, central defender Rob Shaw had a goal-bound shot blocked, Gorton turned away a dangerous Rendell centre and Mullen was denied by Gorton and a defender.

After Rendell had scored, he curled another shot wide and Corry netted goal three, before Shaw headed wide from a set-piece and Gorton pounced upon a loose ball as Mullen and O’Donnell lurked. Finally the ‘keeper blocked Rendell’s attempt from the byeline at the near post.

The first-half-goals…

A left-side corner by Bennett was well nodded on by Miller Kevin Ingram, beating his ex-team-mate and Robins’ skipper Lewis Clarke aerially but the ball fell to Rendell beyond the far stick. His measured centre fell into the six-yard box but only Mullen seemed eager to go for it, resulting in an easy leaning header from a yard or two…

1-0...

Goal two stemmed from Bennett’s pass to Corry at inside-right and he slipped a pass for Rendell to move onto. The striker shot low from about 15 yards, right of centre and the ball beat Gorton’s dive to nestle inside the right post.

2-0...

Corry’s goal was a triumph for turning defence into attack, when Scott mugged Ingram near his own left corner-flag and then cleverly beat his opponent. The midfielder’s short rush ended with a long pass towards the right, which was splendidly hooked on by the alert Mullen into Corry’s path. Covered by Miller defender Ali Wright, Corry looked to shoot (maybe) as Gorton advanced but somehow his left boot didn’t connect properly and the ball rolled to the right. That fooled the goalminder and wrong-footed the unfortunate Wright, allowing Corry to follow the rolling sphere. He converted easily near the right post… An unintentional dummy? Matters not… 3-0…

3-0...

Second period offense by the Robins…

Before goal four went in, Gorton had already fumbled a low cross by home replacement Tom Craine but had quickly regained the ball, Mullen hadn’t quite been able to get his head to a left-flank corner and Scott’s hard, low shot from 16 yards, inside-left slot had been saved neatly, diving left by Gorton.

Between goals four and five, Owain Taylor rounded Gorton at inside-right but could only shoot past the near post from an angle, Craine had slammed a shot too high and had then set up fellow substitute Adam Bourn for a good opportunity but the winger could get no purchase on his shot, which rolled by the near post. Craine headed over the bar and then Gorton saved at his feet but the striker soon assisted Seeley to net his first goal.

Seeley then drove wide from downtown with Bourn free to his right but he took Craine’s next assist to make it 6-0 and complete his hat-trick, before Gorton blocked Craine’s effort from the left byeline at the near post.

Finally, Craine nabbed goal seven from Taylor’s corner, a deserved reward for his efforts and that was really well liked by Matt Seeley in the home dugout…

The four second-half goals…   

A deep free-kick was headed on from 20 yards out by Craine with a huge leap but Seeley nipped between Ingram and Wright to poke the ball easily past the helpless Gorton and it was 4-0…

4-0...

Seeley was set up for goal 5 by a strong run to the left byeline by Taylor, who had been freed by Seeley himself. A useful nudge off a defender’s boot allowed Taylor to shove the ball into the unmarked Seeley’s path, 12 yards out and the forward lashed a rising shot into the right corner of the net.

5-0...

The hat-trick goal stemmed from a rush to the left beeline by Craine and his pass inside was smartly flicked into the net at the near post by Seeley.

6-0...

Goal seven came as a result of a left-flank corner by Taylor and nobody really challenged Craine in the 6 yard box as he planted a downward header past the exposed goalkeeper…

7-0...

The final words…

Feckenham were well beaten on the day, despite showing commitment and endeavour but subsequently, their inability to create any real offense contributed hugely to their downfall. A messy period after half-time and the interruptions for substitutions offered a glimmer of hope for the guests but once Seeley was in the groove, Knowle rattled in four more goals…

Thanks to Knowle for the warm welcome yet again…

Must watch the Millers at home soon, if invited…

Images...

CLARKE & BENNETT: STEADY FOR THE ROBINS...

PHELAN CHAPERONES COOKE...

SPOT THE SMILING SCOTT...

SOME SORTING OUT TO DO...

NO, THE REF ISN'T CELEBRATING TOO... 

THE GRIMACING SEELEYMAN, THREE GOALS IN JUST OVER HALF-AN-HOUR...

THE NAME-TAKER...

BALL-BUTTING...

RESPITE...