Knebworth record a second ‘double’ of the season, this time over Sun Sports Rovers.
Reece Leen reports…
Sun Sports Rovers 0, Knebworth Seniors 3 – 30/11/2024
Knebworth travelled to Watford to face an out of form Sun Sports Rovers attempting to replicate the prior result in the home fixture earlier in the season. Similar to the previous meeting, the first half left a lot to be desired. Although accompanied with some decent chances, the trend for the season continued and chances were wasted through poor decision making. Knebworth found a lot of joy down the right through Matt Harwood’s direct dribbling, leading the oranges into good positions on the pitch. However due to lapses in concentration and decision making leading to crosses being cleared out or for corners. Knebworth failed to make the most of the height advantage from set pieces with the most notable attempts at goal being headers from Alex Parker and Reece Leen both being blazed over and wide respectively. From the off Knebworth looked solid defensively with the little pressure from Sun Sports being dealt with comprehensively. It is abundantly clear that confidence in the oranges backline is growing as Knebworth played out from the back efficiently, working with the midfielders the Ks looked sharp transitioning from defence to attack. However, progressive passes played into the hands of Sun Sports by the use of long and high balls. For the majority of the first half Knebworth operated in the Sun Sports final third with Taylor Dingley and Billy Mulley consistently being found in pockets around for the final pass not to arrive. Nearer the end of the first half Knebworth’s pressure finally broke the deadlock as Paul Clarke’s work rate saw him pick up the ball off the Sun Sports ’10’ to thread the ball down the line for Mulley, who’s cross was redirected over the keeper by an opposition centre half. 1-0 Knebworth.
From captain Will Oram’s half time message it was not good enough. The Ks never made it out of first gear. Similar to the first half, Sun Sports provided little to no threat with the most notable of attempts on target dealt with comfortably by Harry Crews. Knebworth continued to mount pressure on their opposition, creating a fair amount of half chances just after the interval. As the oranges turned the screw; they found half chances turning into big chances with the first being clever passing until the ball ended up at Dingley’s feet on the edge of the 18 yard box. He dispatched this sublimely off the inside of the post to double the lead. The Ks’ precision in transition led to an Oram long ball finding the feet of Leen for the striker’s attempt to be saved by the Sun Sports number one. The duo combined again as Oram’s low cross found the feet of Leen who decided to pass the ball back to the keeper on his right foot. Knebworth finally made it 3-0 as link up play between the midfield and Mulley sliding the ball across to Dingley who blasted the ball into the same bottom left hand corner leaving the Sun Sports keeper no chance. The chances continued to occur as Harwood was driving at the Sun Sports backline only to be brought down on the edge of the box. This free kick was taken by our skipper whose effort struck the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Shortly after Oram found his headed effort being tipped onto the post and out for a corner. This corner was taken by Luke Hewitt who used some extraordinary quick thinking and decided to lump the corner flag into the box instead of the ball.
Overall a good performance from Knebworth defensively and a deserved result. With more clinical finishing the oranges may have scored six or seven. All eyes are now on next week’s away clash with Welwyn United.
Main Door Security player of match: Paul Clarke
The Ks are back on the road next Saturday, 7 December, for the third of four consecutive away games and a trip to Welwyn United; fixtures list here. The previous meeting’s match report can be found here: Knebworth 3, Welwyn United 3 – 26/10/2024
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