​Knowle were looking to continue their impressive form against last season’s play off finalists Leicester St Andrews at the Robins Nest yesterday. It’s been an eye-catching start for the Robins following promotion from division two last season with eleven wins from thirteen matches cementing their place in the top three going into the weekend.

The Robins were coming off eight straight wins in division one and narrowly lost to Romulus in the first round of the MFL league cup on penalties in mid-week. It’s also been a successful season off the pitch with the installation of floodlights over the last week to support a busy schedule of upcoming matches at step six.

They also had the best defensive record in the league with just eight goals conceded under manager Matt Seeley.      

Leicester St Andrews have quietly grown into the season following last season’s narrow loss to Coton Green on penalties in the play-off final. The Drews were coming into the weekend with some momentum with four wins from their last six matches in division one.    

The visitors are part of a group of teams who look capable of challenging for the play offs throughout the season. They were sitting in 9th going into yesterday and only four points off Bilston Town in 5th with three games in hand over the Steelmen. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line-up for Knowle included Matt Horton starting in goal and George Seeley captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Josh Parsons playing up front and being supported by Talib Copeland and Hayden Purves on the wings.

There were six changes from their match against Romulus in mid-week with Jack Duggan coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Ricardo Dudley.

The starting line up for Leicester St Andrews included Charlie Andrews starting in goal and Corey Bucalossi captaining the team from central midfield. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Zakari Adams and Greg Mills being supported by Archie Wood in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their match against Wednesfield last weekend with Tom Harris coming into the team and playing on the right wing. 

​First Half

Knowle got off to a positive start in the opening stages of the first half and created a good chance when Connor Mort made a promising run into the box from a corner before heading over the bar on 6 minutes.

The Robins looked like a side in form and took the lead in the 7th minute when Toby Scott beat a few players before finding Talib Copeland in the box who produced a quality finish into the top right corner for 1-0.

Knowle were organised off the ball throughout the first half and did a good job of limiting the clear-cut chances for Leicester St Andrews. Jack Duggan impressed at centre back and was constantly clearing the danger for the Robins.

​The hosts had the momentum in the opening half an hour and capitalised to make it 2-0 on 24 minutes. George Seeley found some space in the box from a free kick before producing a composed finish into the bottom left corner.

The visitors kept going in search of a way back into it and found the breakthrough on 26 minutes when a defensive mix up at the back allowed Greg Mills to head into the top left corner for 2-1.  

The Leicester striker was a constant threat for the Drews yesterday and made some promising runs off the shoulder to help them build some momentum up front.

Knowle created some good chances in the closing stages of the first half and came close to making it 3-1.   

Talib Copeland looked a threat and was making things happen for the Robins down the right-hand side. He found some space in the final third before running through on goal with just Charlie Andrews to beat. The Leicester keeper stepped up and made a huge save on 33 minutes.  

The Knowle winger created another good chance a few minutes later when he beat a few players down the left before squaring the ball to Josh Parsons in the box. He created a bit of space before having a shot well blocked by Andy Melville on 35 minutes.

The visitors were growing into the game at 2-1 down with Charlie Andrews making some crucial saves to keep them in the match. Dylon Bennett had a shot from the edge of the box well saved by the Leicester keeper who tipped it round the post for a corner just before half time.

Second Half

Leicester St Andrews started the second half brightly and had a good fifteen-minute spell of momentum. Their best chance for an equaliser came on 55 minutes when a free-flowing move saw Tom Harris through on goal before having a shot well saved by Matt Horton.  

The visitors showed flashes of their attacking quality yesterday and caused Knowle some problems throughout the second half.

The Robins were able to see out the pressure from Leicester and make it 3-1 thanks to a well worked corner that found Connor Mort at the back post who headed into the top right corner on the hour mark.

There were moments yesterday where Leicester asked some questions of the Robins who were able to respond when it mattered. The third goal for Knowle felt important and broke up some of Leicester’s earlier momentum.  

The visitors pulled a goal back from the spot on 70 minutes though thanks to a penalty kick. Ricardo Dudley got the wrong side of Sam Carroll before fouling the Leicester attacker in the box for a spot kick. Greg Mills stepped up and produced a composed finish into the bottom left corner for 3-2.

Knowle kept going and responded well to the setback. Jack Duggan found some space in the box before having his header tipped over the post by Charlie Andrews on 75 minutes.

There was a bad looking injury to Andy Melville for the visitors on 80 minutes who had to be subbed off late on. He impressed on the left-hand side of the back three for Leicester and read the danger well for the visitors yesterday.

Knowle were able to seal the match on 81 minutes when Jack Duggan headed the ball onto Talib Copeland at the back post who finished into the top right corner for 4-2.  

The use of set pieces was a real strength for the Robins yesterday and made the difference in this match. They looked sharp from set pieces delivered into the box and three of their four goals came from well worked corners or free kicks.   

Leicester had a late chance to pull a goal back in stoppage time when Greg Mills ran into the box before having a shot saved by Matt Horton at the front post.  

The Robins were able to see the match out in the closing stages of the second half to keep their momentum going in the league. It’s now nine straight wins in division one to keep the pressure on the likes of Gornal Athletic and Sutton United at the top of the table.

The Peacocks got an impressive 3-0 away win against AFC Bridgnorth while Sutton United lost to play off chasers Birstall United 2-0 away from home.  

Upcoming fixtures

Knowle will be looking to continue their impressive form against Cradley Town (Away) next Saturday before playing Coventry Copsewood at home in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup on Saturday 25th October.                     

The Robins then have a run of home games against Kirby Muxloe (Saturday 1st November) and Chelmsley Town (Tuesday 4th November) before travelling to Bilston Town on Saturday 8th November.

Leicester St Andrews will be looking to bounce back against Lutterworth Athletic at home next Saturday before playing AFC North Kilworth (Away) on Wednesday 22nd October.

The Drews then play Heather St John’s (Away) on Saturday 25th October before travelling to Ingles in the Leicester VEO Senior Cup on Tuesday 28th October.

FT score: Knowle 4-2 Leicester St Andrews

Man of the match: Jack Duggan (Knowle)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League

​Sutton United were looking to continue their unbeaten home record at Coleshill Road with a result against Coventry Copsewood yesterday. It’s been an impressive start to the season for the Greens with thirteen wins from fifteen matches in division one to sit in 2nd going into yesterday’s match.  

The hosts were a side in form and were coming off four straight league wins which includes eye catching results against Heather St John’s and AFC North Kilworth over the last few weeks.  

They were looking to build on an encouraging 3-0 away win over Lutterworth Athletic at the weekend thanks to goals from Oli Jeeves, James Spruce and Joe Gildea.  

Coventry Copsewood were looking to build on their 1-1 draw with Kirby Muxloe at the weekend.

The visitors have been competitive this season at step six under the new management team of Carl Nolan, Ryan Baldwin and Ash Bahosten and are going through a rebuild at this level.

Standout results so far include the away win against AFC North Kilworth in August and the back-to-back wins against Stapenhill and Smethwick Rangers to start the season. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton United included Gabe Newey starting in goal and Tom Massey captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joe Gildea playing up front and being supported by James Spruce and Ollie Burgundy on the wings.

There were two changes from their match against Lutterworth Athletic at the weekend with Joe Gildea coming back into the team and playing as the number nine.

The starting line up for Coventry Copsewood included Logan Elliott starting in goal and Joe Miles captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Archie Gallacher playing up front and being supported by George Steele and Taylor Blyth on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Kirby Muxloe at the weekend with Alfie Smith coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Amrun Sandhu. 

​First Half

Sutton started the match on the front foot and were taking the game to Coventry Copsewood early on. Tom Massy made a promising run into the box before firing over the bar on 3 minutes.

The visitors were working hard off the ball to settle into the match in the opening twenty minutes. The holding midfield of Alfie Smith and Amrun Sandhu did a good job of shielding the back three and made it harder for Sutton to break them down.  

​Joe Miles was leading by example at the back for Coventry Copsewood and helped clear the danger throughout the first half.

The first good chance for Sutton came in the 24th minute when Tom Massy found some space on the edge of the box before squaring it to Joe Gildea whose shot was well saved by Logan Elliott to keep it goalless.

The visitors were struggling to build momentum up front as the first half went on with Tion Pearce impressing at centre back for Sutton. He was alert to the danger and constantly broke up promising attacks for the Greens.

This helped Sutton take control of the match midway through the first half and they found the breakthrough thanks to a moment of quality. James Spruce beat a few players down the left-hand side before finding Tom Massey who fired into the bottom right corner for 1-0 on 28 minutes.

The visitors had a couple of half chances to get back into it with Taylor Blyth finding some space in the box before having a shot blocked on 34 minutes.

Sutton were playing some brilliant football in the closing stages of the first half and made it 2-0 when a well delivered corner by Ollie Burgundy found Joe Gildea at the front post who headed into the bottom left corner on 41 minutes.

Lewis Hayden also impressed for the Greens from holding midfield and helped to build up the play and control the tempo of the match throughout the first half.

Second Half

Sutton continued where they left off in the early stages of the second half and found a quick goal to make it 3-0 and effectively seal the match on 49 minutes. Joe Gildea found some space in the box before producing a classy finish into the bottom right corner.

The Greens looked like a side in form yesterday and looked sharp throughout the ninety minutes.

James Spruce impressed down the right-hand side and was making things happen in the final third. He’s been a good addition to the squad over the last few weeks and gives Sutton that attacking depth going forward.  

Sutton pressed on in the final twenty minutes and were causing Coventry problems in the final third.  

Tom Massey played a good ball to substitute Harry Howard whose shot was well saved by Logan Elliottt who made some crucial saves to keep the score down yesterday.  

Sutton substitute Dylan Green found some space on the edge of the box before finishing into the bottom left corner for 4-0 on 82 minutes.  

Harry Manton cut inside from the right before having a curling shot tipped over the post by Logan Elliott a few minutes later.

Sutton kept going and made it 5-0 near the end of stoppage time when Oli Jeeves produced a quality finish into the bottom left corner in the 93rd minute.

Full Time  

It feels like an important win for Sutton who go top of the table and improve their goal difference.

There’s a lot of the season left but it’s looking like a three-team title race at the top of division one between Sutton United, Gornal Athletic and Knowle.  

It could come down to goal difference, so it was encouraging to see Sutton keep going in the final twenty minutes of the second half.  

It was hard to realistically judge Coventry Copsewood yesterday against an in-form Sutton United side. The visitors competed well with the Greens in the opening half an hour before the attacking quality of Sutton made the difference.  

There were a lot of players who impressed for the visitors though. Ethan Baynham came into the team and looked good as part of a back three. He was clearing the danger and worked hard off the ball. Amrun Sandhu also showed flashes of quality from holding midfield and built up the play well for the visitors.

Upcoming fixtures

Sutton United have a busy run of games over the next month and travel to Birstall United on Saturday before playing Stapenhill at home next Saturday.

They then travel to Coventry Copsewood in the Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup on Tuesday 21st October before playing Ingles (Away) in the second round of the MFL League cup on Tuesday 28th October.

The Greens then have a home match against Wednesfield on Saturday 1st November.

Coventry Copsewood will be looking to bounce back with a home match against AFC North Kilworth on Saturday before travelling to Birstall United next Saturday.

There then at home to Sutton United in the Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup on Tuesday 21st October before playing Leicester St Andrews at home on Saturday 1st November.

The visitors then have a run of away games in division one against Nuneaton Griff (Wednesday 5th November), Allexton and New Parks (Saturday 8th November) and Knowle (Tuesday 11th November).    

FT score: Sutton United 5-0 Coventry Copsewood

Man of the match: Tion Pearce (Sutton United)

Attendance: 218

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League