Match Reports
16.9.07 Headless Cross (Away)
Knowle Ladies fought hard to continue their unbeaten start to the season in a difficult game against Headless Cross.
In what was probably their best performance so far this season, Knowle did well to come back from a goal down and grind out a 2-1 win. Knowle were unlucky not to go ahead in the second minute of the game, when Jenna hit the post after the goalkeeper’s poor clearance landed straight at her feet. After this early chance however, Headless Cross began to take control of the game using long balls down both wings to stretch the Knowle defence. Just as it looked as though Knowle had weathered the early storm, a lapse in concentration allowed the Headless Cross forward to beat the offside trap to race through and slot the ball past the goalkeeper.
The goal gave Headless Cross even more confidence and they continued to pressurise the Knowle defence. Knowle were restricted to long range shots, which the Headless Cross keeper dealt with well. To their credit Knowle fought back and the game became far more even in the latter stages of the first half. However both sides’ play was rather scrappy with no real goal-scoring opportunities to speak of. It seemed as though the best chance of a goal would come from a set piece, and so it proved when Knowle levelled on the stroke of half time. Jade’s corner was flicked on by Sam at the near post causing confusion in the six yard box whichresulted in the Headless Cross goalkeeper palming the ball into her own net.
The second half began as the first had left off, with neither side on top. Both sides began to use the long ball to avoid the midfield battleground. The game changed on the hour mark when Knowle went ahead with probably the best move of the game. Mel won the ball from a Headless Cross corner and took it clear before threading an excellent through ball up the line for Cookie. Cookie did well to cut inside her marker and play in a low cross to pick out Jade, who made no mistake with a left footed strike.
Going behind riled Headless and they began to put Knowle under pressure, but Knowle rose to the challenge, defending resolutely. Headless Cross tended to rely on the long ball, and the Knowle defence and goalkeeper dealt with most of these comfortably. There were a few real scares, with Manners in goal making two good saves and the rest of the team pitching in with last ditch tackles and clearances off the goal-line. Despite the heavy pressure, Knowle looked dangerous on the counter-attack and could have extended their lead. During the last few minutes Headless hit the bar from a header at a corner, but Knowle managed to clear their lines to win a deserved three points.
Headless Cross will probably feel aggrieved they did not manage to snatch an equaliser, but after putting in such a battling display, Knowle believed they were well worth all three points.
Match Report by Sam Smith
14.10.07 Fairfield Villa (Away)
Knowle came away from their game at Fairfield Villa disappointed with a 2-1 loss. All the goals came in the last ten minutes of a game that had few clear cut chances up until that point.
Knowle started the game brightly, with some good work down the left wing by Jade and Cookie pinning Fairfield back into their own half. However Knowle failed to capitalise on this early pressure and Fairfield also began to push forward. During the first half both sides favoured the long ball approach which suited both defences. Chances were therefore few and far between, though it could be argued that there were a number of tight offside decisions which could have gone in favour of the attacking team on another day.
Fairfield had perhaps the best chance of the half when a lofted pass fell to their centre forward in acres of space, but she was foiled by a well timed last ditch tackle by Sam Taylor. The game continued in much the same vein, with the long ball tactics bypassing the midfield and the first half finished 0-0.
After half time, both sides began to play better football, keeping the ball on the floor more often and playing through the midfield. The game became far more open and it looked unlikely the match would stay goalless. Fairfield concentrated their efforts through the central areas, whereas Knowle used their wingers more, especially down the left hand side where Mel’s running caused a number of problems for the Fairfield full back. However Fairfield began to enjoy a greater share of the possession and put Knowle under real pressure at the back. The defence did well to restrict Fairfield to long range efforts which Manners dealt with easily. Yet Fairfield finally got their reward when Sam misjudged a header and sent the ball looping backwards over Manners for an own goal. This could have been game over but Knowle have shown their battling qualities many times this season, and so it proved again when they equalised two minutes later. Steph’s chipped pass switched play out to the right wing, where Laura did well to draw the two defenders towards her before slipping the ball through into space for Cookie, who placed it past the onrushing keeper. It looked as though the game would finish 1-1 as play began to wind down, but in stoppage time one of the Fairfield strikers hit a speculative shot on the turn that Manners got a hand to but couldn’t keep it out.
Despite the loss, Knowle were pleased with their battling performance and felt they should really have nicked a point. Although conceding a goal in injury time was frustrating, it won’t dent the excellent team spirit at the club, and Knowle will be looking to bounce back in their next game.
Match Report by Sam Smith
