Northfield Town V Knowle (Division Two)

​Northfield were looking for an eye-catching result against league leaders Knowle to boost their hopes of winning the league title. The South Birmingham side were sitting in 2nd going into yesterday and four points off the Robins with three games to go. They were the form side in division two and coming off seven straight wins to close the gap on Knowle.     

It’s been an impressive season so far for the Town, and there looking to wrap it up with the division two title over the next month. One of their main strengths has been their home form and they were looking to continue their unbeaten run at Shenley Lane against Knowle yesterday.   

Knowle have been one of the standout teams at step seven over the last few seasons and were looking to get a statement win against Northfield to be crowned division two champions. The Robins have been competing at the top of the league throughout the season and were unbeaten away from home coming into this match.

Yesterday was their final match of the league campaign before playing in the final of Les James Challenge Cup in early May. The Solihull side will be looking to make it three straight wins in the LJ Cup final against either Hampton or Northfield at the Bescot next month. 

​Starting line ups

Northfield’s starting line up included Tom Walker starting in goal and Josh Westwood captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Chris Tabberner playing up front and being supported by Josh Roberts and Rhys Forbes on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Coventrians last weekend with Jack Wilson coming into the team and playing at left back.  

Knowle’s starting line up included Nathan Taylor starting in goal and George Seeley captaining the team in the number ten role. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Jay Rendell playing up front and being supported by Hayden Purves and Odane Barnes on the wings.

There were five changes from their last league match against Coventry Alvis a few weeks ago with Toby Scott coming back into the team and playing in holding midfield.  

​First Half

Knowle started the match brightly and took the game to Northfield in search of an early goal. The Robins were committing players forward inside the opening twenty minutes and causing problems down the channels. They had a decent chance to take the lead when Hayden Purves played a dangerous ball into the box from the right that just evaded Odane Barnes at the back post.

​Northfield were working hard off the ball and showed character to grow into the match at 0-0 in the early stages of the first half. The visitors applied a lot of pressure on the Town goal, but the defence stepped up when it mattered to get a foothold in the match. Brad Hendry was reading the danger well at centre back with Josh Westwood helping to break up the play from midfield.

The Robins looked assured at the back in the opening half hour with Ricardo Dudley a reliable presence at centre back. He was marking Chris Tabberner and did a good job of limiting the chances for Northfield in the first half.       

The pattern of the match involved Knowle having a lot of the ball and looking to breakdown a resolute Northfield defence. The Town were looking to catch the visitors out on the break thanks to the pace of Josh Roberts and Rhys Forbes on the wings.   

Northfield offered an attacking threat thanks to Chris Tabberner up front who was pressing the two centre backs for Knowle and not allowing them to play out from the back. 

Knowle were building up the play well in midfield and down the wings but were lacking that final ball into the box to stretch the Northfield defence. The likes of Odane Barnes and George Seeley were doing well to hold up the play for the Robins and get them up the pitch.

Just as the league leaders were looking to finish the first half strongly, they were hit on the counter attack. A brilliant long diagonal ball found Josh Roberts on the edge of the box with a few players to beat. He did well to hold off Anton Powell and flicked the ball into the box. He made an inspired run before producing a quality finish into the top right corner to make it 1-0.

It was a great goal from Northfield and one that will live long in the memory of Town supporters if they go on to win the league title. It stunned the visitors who pinned Northfield back throughout large spells of the first half.

The Robins showed character and came close to finding an equaliser near the end of the half when Jack Duggan couldn’t quite connect with a ball at the back post.  

There were also a couple of incidents when Chris Tabberner was walking on a tightrope for a couple of fouls with Robins supporters shouting for a second yellow.  

None the less, Northfield were able to see out the first half for a lead.

Second Half

The second half was understandably scrappy with not that many clear-cut chances in front of goal.

There was a tactical change for Knowle at the start of the second half with Jay Rendell coming off for Tom Craine who made a few promising runs into the box in search of an equaliser.

Northfield looked lively up front on the counter attack in the early stages of the second half and were causing problems for Knowle. Josh Roberts was making some brilliant runs in behind the defence. He put a dangerous ball into the box that just drifted wide of goal on the hour mark.  

The main story of the second half was how hard Northfield were working off the ball to keep their 1-0 lead. The work rate and organisation to keep Knowle at bay was incredible at times with players constantly tracking back and breaking up the play. Josh Darnbrough and Jack McGinn came on as substitutes and helped to shore up the midfield and stop Knowle finding space.

The visitors still looked a threat though and were going for it in the final stages of the second half. Hayden Purves was making things happen on the left wing and taking players on. MD Shimul also looked a threat off the bench and made some dangerous runs into the box.

Northfield did a brilliant job of keeping it tight at the back and looked like one the best defences in division two with just 18 goals conceded throughout the season.

The Town managed to hold on for a huge three points to boost their title hopes.

​Full Time       

This was a great day for Northfield Town with success both on and off the pitch. An impressive attendance of 393 supporters watched the match at Shenley Lane with the volunteers at the club working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it a brilliant matchday experience.

The result is undoubtedly huge for Northfield’s title hunt, and they now need just two points from their remaining two games against Coventry Alvis (Away) and Hampton (Home) to be crowned league champions.

They take a break from league action and play Hampton (Away) in the semi finals of LJ cup next Saturday for a chance to meet Knowle in the final at the Bescot.  

The Town have come a long way since joining the MFL two years ago and are now just a league win away from winning the division two title.

Knowle will feel gutted by the result yesterday, but they played relatively well and just couldn’t find a goal. None the less, it’s been a good season overall with only two losses from twenty-eight matches.

A lot would have to go right to be crowned league champions but there’s an outside chance if results go in their favour.

​The Robins wrap up their season in the final of the LJ Cup and will be looking to defend it for a third consecutive time next month.        
FT score: Northfield Town 1-0 Knowle

Man of the match: Josh Roberts (Northfield Town)

Attendance: 393

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League