Author: knebfc

Adult teams, First team

Seniors: Saturday 9 November 2024 – Sun Shines on the Ks

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Joe Smith’s dramatic winner saw Knebworth record back-to-back wins for the first time in over four years, and remain unbeaten for three games for the first time since January 2023.

Billy Mulley reports…
Knebworth Seniors 2, Sun Sports Rovers 1 – 09/11/2024

Knebworth made it back-to-back league victories with a well-fought 2-1 win against Sun Sports at The Rec on Saturday afternoon.

Coming into the fixture off the back of a 4-0 triumph against Chipperfield the week before, it was a fairly non-eventful first half, with neither side really testing the respective goalkeepers.

After a bright start to the second half, it was Sun Sports who took the lead. Sun Sports’ danger man in the air was left unmarked from a corner and subsequently could not miss.

Unlike other weeks where Knebworth have struggled to adapt after conceding a goal, the response from Knebworth was brilliant. Billy Mulley and Taylor Dingley went close to equalising shortly after the Sun Sports opener, but it was Taylor who restored parity with a thumping strike from just inside the box, following Billy’s reverse pass.

Knebworth continued to create the better openings as the second half wore on and tensions started to boil as both teams searched for a winner. With ten minutes to go, the opposition’s striker headbutted Michael Stone’s fist, which led to a bit of a push and a shove.

Knebworth finally got the goal that their pressure deserved with about five minutes to go, with super sub Joe Smith leaping like a salmon to nod in Billy’s stood-up cross.

Travel Sense Julie player of match: Billy Mulley (not selected by the author!)

Matchday programme available here

The Ks are next at home on Saturday 16 November with Elizabeth Allen Old Boys the visitors; kick off is 14:00.

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

Adult teams, First team

Seniors: Saturday 2 November 2024 – Four-Zip for the Ks

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Knebworth secured the league double over Chipperfield with a 4-0 win at The Rec.

Alex Parker’s brace plus goals from Billy Mulley and Matt Harwood gave the Ks a commanding home victory.

Alex Parker reports…
Knebworth Seniors 4, Chipperfield 0 – 02/11/2024

Knebworth’s first reverse fixture of the season took place when the Ks hosted Chipperfield Corinthians Reserves having played them way back on the opening day of the season, 7 September. That match saw Knebworth run out two-nil winners with a couple of late goals in a close match.

This time out Chipperfield started the quicker and had a lot of possession without threatening the goal. As the half went on Knebworth started getting some possession and were putting passes together and were starting to create chances.  Then goals game very quickly and Knebworth virtually killed the game off in the space of twenty minutes. A goal a piece from Billy Mulley and Alex Parker, followed up with a cross that found the net from Matt Harwood put Knebworth three up at half time.

The second half started pretty much the same as the first half with nearly all the possession belonging to Chipperfield but as a team Knebworth were defending very well and Chipperfield were reduced to a lot of long-range efforts which were easily dealt with by Jens ‘Harry’ Lehmann. After nullifying Chipperfield’s attack, the pattern of the first half was back with Knebworth now having some possession and getting forward again. On one of the attacks, a penalty was given after a Chipperfield player cleared the ball with his arm.  A good save by the keeper diving to his right and pushing the ball towards the edge of the area  but the ball was kept alive by Knebworth and crossed back into the area, Michael Stone’s shot was blocked and bounced high for Parker to power a header into the net.

This killed the game off and Knebworth comfortably saw the rest of the game out. A good performance and a clean sheet.

Main Door Security player of match: Alex Parker (not selected by the author!)

Matchday programme available here

The Ks are next at home on Saturday 9 November with Sun Sports the visitors; kick off is 14:00.

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

Adult teams, First team

Seniors: Saturday 26 October 2024 – Derby Delivers Six-Goal Thriller

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Knebworth shared the derby spoils in a six-goal thriller at The Rec.

Asher Smith reports…
Knebworth Seniors 3, Welwyn United 3 – 26/10/2024

Saturday’s match pitted two teams against each other close in the league, so a big opportunity for Knebworth to secure three points.

Unfortunately, they did not start well and Welwyn took the lead in the first 20 minutes. Knebworth managed to get momentum in the game and with some wonderful build-up play, levelled with a beautiful chip on the edge of the area from Billy Mulley, assisted by Alex Parker. The half ended one goal apiece.

Celebrating Billy Mulley’s equaliser

Coming into the second half there was real optimism and belief that Knebworth could add to their goal tally. The hosts took the lead after sustained pressure saw Taylor Dingley play in Alex Parker on the edge of the area and his low driven shot found the bottom corner of the goal. Unfortunately, Welwyn were back on level terms shortly afterwards when an unlucky deflection lead to a well taken finish for 2-2.

Celebrating Alex Parker’s coolly taken goal

Time was running out but Knebworth’s persistence and a terrific attacking dribble from Matt Harwood resulted in winning a free kick within striking range which Will Oram duly dispatched.

Celebrating Will Oram’s free kick goal

But the local derby had one final twist as Welwyn came back again once more, delivering a goal from a corner to snatch a share of the points.

Main Door Security player of match: Paul Clarke

Matchday programme available here

The Ks are next at home on Saturday 2 November with Chipperfield Corinthians the visitors; kick off is 14:00.

Special thanks to Nick White for the photos.

Youth teams

Remembering Richard Thom

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Richard Thom: 5th July 1953 – 16th October 2023

One year on, we remember Club legend Richard Thom who sadly passed away on 16 October 2023.

Richard dedicated 45 years of his life to grassroots football and celebrated 41 years with the Club in summer 2023. Over the years Richard made an outstanding contribution to Knebworth Football Club.

Having joined in the summer of 1982, Richard undertook a number of roles over the years including coach and team administrator, Secretary of the Youth Club, fixtures and registrations, a year as Treasurer, our first Child Welfare Officer and CRB verifier, and Girls Football Development Officer. Prior to joining, he spent several seasons with Woodland FC in Stevenage.

Richard was involved in the merger of the adult and youth football teams into one Club and was instrumental in Knebworth FC achieving its Charter Standard Award and, later, our Development Club status, the predecessor to The FA’s Accredited scheme.

Richard supported so many players and coaches throughout those 45 years and is part of the legacy of Knebworth FC. His dedication to the Club and years spent supporting us have made such a huge difference to so many lives.

Richard was also an avid Stevenage FC fan , following them home and away for many years, an enthusiastic dancer and a well-traveled animal lover.

We miss him dearly 🧡

Adult teams, First team

Seniors: Saturday 28 September 2024 – Ten-Goal Thriller

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Knebworth on the wrong end of a ten-goal thriller at The Rec.

Paul Clarke reports…
Knebworth Seniors 4, Hinton Reserves 6 – 28/09/2024

It was a return to The Rec as Knebworth hosted Hinton Reserves, who were both sitting on three points. Hinton came out of the traps quickly and passed the ball with purpose. From an early corner, poor marking in the area allowed the visitors to take the lead as a shot squirmed past goalkeeper Harry Crews and rolled agonisingly over the line. Soon after, it was two, as the striker managed to find space between two defenders and his snapshot took a deflection and nestled into the corner of the net. There were a few more close scrapes for Knebworth before they began to get a foothold in the game and push Hinton back. Mulley’s pace and direct nature was causing havoc for the Hinton centre halves, as he twisted them inside out. It was he who stepped up and curled a pinpoint free kick high into the net, past the despairing dive of the giant goalkeeper to pull one back ten minutes before half time after Reece Leen had been clumsily fouled. It probably should have been 2-2 when a half-hearted offside flag from Hinton was ignored by the referee and Mulley attempted a lob which sailed over, when he possibly had more time to pick his spot.

Hinton started the second half very well and again Knebworth failed to keep their concentration and the score was quickly 4-1. One of the goals was an impressive curled effort from the edge of the area. Knebworth showed some resilience and kept fighting and were rewarded when Leen powered a low strike into the corner of the net. Hinton made it five when a corner was swung in and there appeared to be foul on the keeper, which allowed a free header at the back stick.

Leen scored another goal, this time from the penalty spot after an unnecessary barge from the Hinton centre half. Hinton put the game beyond any doubt, as their forward who had only come on at half time sealed his hat-trick with an instinctive finish from close range. Hinton were convinced a penalty should have been awarded when their striker was bundled over but the referee was unmoved. There was still time for Mulley to add his second, as he finished a good team move to smash the ball low into the corner. Some real positives for Knebworth in terms of their decision making and finishing when attacking but plenty to work on in terms of their defending as a team and concentration levels at the start of both halves.

The Ks are next at home on 26 October for a local derby with Welwyn United; kick off is 14:00.