Ladies Fall Short at Coundon

An eventful game over at Hawkes Mill Sports ended with the Ladies on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline in a game where they will feel they should have taken points.

Knowle started brightly and connected well in midfield to send both Nadia Bacciochi and Demi Rolph into space up top, but the Coundon defenders marshalled them away from goal and a snapshot from Katie Atter went well wide.  Coundon came back with some good attacking play down their left side, as the cross came into the box it ricocheted off both defender and attacker to flick up and hit Sam Smith's hand; the ref immediately pointed to the spot. Coundon scored the resulting kick to go 1-0 up.

Knowle shook it off and went on the hunt again, with Trina Greaves hitting the post and Morgan Betteridge putting in a dangerous corner that had to be cleared off the line.  But it was Coundon who extended the lead, and if Knowle thought the first was unlucky, this was worse - a speculative low shot deflected horribly off Bacciochi to play the attacker in perfectly and she made no mistake with the finish.

Knowle continued to foray forward and were on top for most of the first half.  Nelia Severin was giving the home defenders a torrid time and was pulled down on a number of occasions.  After a delay to one such free kick, Natalie Gibson sent it goalwards, the keeper made the save but Greaves was on hand to fire home the loose ball. 

Rolph then went close after good play from Lily Phelps and Severin played her in for a 1v1, but her near post strike hit the side netting.  Gibson then hit another free kick just over the bar when Severin was chopped down again.

Coundon's attacks were few and far between, but that didn't matter when it resulted in another goal; a quick throw in saw the winger in space to cross, Greaves couldn't make the clearance and the attacker was left with an easy tap in. The game had become very stop start, with a lot of fouls being given all over the pitch, but Knowle kept knocking on the door and Coundon had to rely on good defending and goalkeeping to maintain their lead.  Just before half time, Severing was tripped yet again, but this time inside the area - Rolph buried the spot kick to leave the score at the break 3-2.

A change of system from Coundon in the second period meant Knowle didn't enjoy as much dominance and it became a more even game.  Several chances went begging early on for the Robins; Rolph hitting two shots just off target and even Maz Byrne got in on the act with a dangerous overlapping run.  It felt like the goal was coming, and it did...but at the wrong end for Knowle.  A long ball into the box bounced off Betteridge to the forward; she was denied a shot at goal by Smith but was able to lay a pass off to her strike partner in space and she beat Jess Jenkinson. Coundon then had a couple of long range attempts that Jenkinson handled well

Knowle had a glorious chance to pull one back when Gibson's free kick was spilled by the keeper and a goalmouth scramble ensued; Rolph and Severin seemed to get in each other's way before Atter's shot was blocked on the line.  Rolph then couldn't connect with a header two yards out after being teed up by Camile Abbotts and Gibson.  At the other end, Coundon also went very close when the forward rounded Jenkinson, but Molly Hughes managed to get her toe on the shot and poke it wide; the referee gave a goal kick however.

Knowle did get another goal with six minutes plus stoppage remaining; Greaves again lashing home from close range after the keeper couldn't hold another fierce shot.  They threw everything forward but couldn't get the ball in the net, coming closest when Greaves hit the bar.  It wasn't to be for the Robins and although they will be pleased with the performance and the chances they created, leaving empty handed was tough to take.

Knowle: Jenkinson, Phelps (Hampson, 80), Smith (Hughes, 65), Byrne, Betteridge, Greaves, Gibson, Atter (Donnelly, 80), Severin, Rolph, Bacciochi (Abbotts, 65).