Knowle Down Bolehall to Stay Top

Ronald Crane reports from Rene Road.

Although The Robins scored five goals with five different scorers, this victory was built upon a solid, resolute, and mean defence. Swifts have a reputation for scoring goals at home, but in this match they were overwhelmed right from the start.



With Ricardo Dudley the pick of an excellent backline, they never let the home forwards get anywhere near scoring. Swifts only attempt, on or off target, occurred when Holland cut in from the left and let fly from distance. Oscar Slater had no problem saving.

It was all Knowle, with the visitors rarely out of the home half of the park. The home defence was at full stretch. However, they had no response when Hayden Purves produced a fierce shot from twenty yards to open the scoring.

Six minutes later a Zak Parsons corner from the right was headed home at the back post by Joe Drake-Cervates. He was unmarked.

With The Robins in cruise control the rest of the first half was played out with Swifts unable to make progress through the mid-field and reduced to pumping long balls forward. These were meat and drink to The Robins’ defence.

Both sides made changes for the second-half, and Swifts were much better although still unable to trouble the visitors goal. Substitute Tom Craine only managed seven minutes before being forced to retire due to injury. We wait to find out just how serious it is. His substitute, Callum Burston-Keeley, did not waste his chance, scoring after ten minutes on the pitch.

Three minutes later, another sub this time George Seeley, made it four, and at the death yet another sub – Nathan Corry – finished things off with his goal after hitting the post.

This was a comprehensive victory. The Robins were superior in every department.

Next Saturday, 19th October, The Robins travel to Coventry to play Coventrians. Kick off is at 1500

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Knowle FC: Slater; Stone; Powell (Riddiford); Clarke (c); Dudley; Drake-Cervantes [26]; Purves [22] (Craine)(Burston-Keeley [63]); T Scott; Hague (G Seeley [66]); Parsons (Corry [81]); Barnes.