Robins Make Hard Work of Swans

Ronald Crane reports from Stourbridge Road.

The Robins managed to secure all three points from this match, without ever really getting out of second gear. The front men were strangely out of sorts, yet the meanest defence in the Midland Football League was on top form. Clarke and Dudley were as solid as ever, Stone and Powell controlled the flanks. Indeed Anton Powell was the man of the match, producing a superb display of wing back play.

Things got off to a wonderful start; within ninety seconds, Tom Craine had opened the scoring. Despite Powell controlling things on the left, the mid-field found the going difficult on a heavy pitch that cut up as the match proceeded.

Yet the first-half was all The Robins, the Swans were only occasionally allowed anywhere near Craig Johnson in the Robins’ goal. By half-time the game was won with George Seeley scoring as a result of wonderful play on the flank by Hayden Purves. Brandon Hague made it three during the six minutes added time before half-time.

Before we came to the break there were three subs on the park. Hague on for the injured Purves, with the Swans having to use two first-half subs because of injury.

The second-half was a non-event. The Robins knew the job was done, and although Villa were far better second half, they never really bothered the visiting defence. Nonetheless they should take heart from their second half performance, such play will stand them well in games to come.

Knowle FC: Johnson; Stone (Taylor); Powell (Riddiford); Clarke; Dudley; Drake-Cervantes; Craine [1] (Corry); G Seeley (c) [22]; Barnes; Parsons (Toby Scott); Purves (Hague).