Category: Adult teams

A calamitous first half lead to Elizabeth Allen claiming all three points at The Rec.

Knebworth 2, Elizabeth Allen Old Boys 5 – 20/09/2025

Asher Smith reports…

Knebworth started strongly with some attacking presence early on but began to play within themselves and the away side quickly took advantage of it.

Some costly errors at the back gave Elizabeth Allen, a 4-0 lead going in at half time.

In the second half, with some changes made, Knebworth improved and a barrage of chances soon followed. A penalty on the hour mark, after Sim Vilakati was tripped, by Reece Leen got past the keeper to reduce the deficit; 4-1.

Unfortunately however mistakes in the defence came back to haunt the Ks and miscommunication allowed the opposition attacker to get through on goal for a tap in; 5-1.

Knebworth battled back and a strong debut cameo from Charlie Pratt earned himself a penalty for Knebworth which Reece Leen this time dispatched with no doubt; 5-2.

Knebworth pushed and pushed for more goals but the damage was already done in the first half. Lessons learnt but early in the season and an opportunity to bounce back next week against Old Minchendenians.

Raja Tandoori player of the match: Sim Vilakati for a solid attacking display and work rate to win the ball back for his team.

Enjoy this week’s Match Programme here

The Ks are at home again on Saturday 27 September 2025 with Old Minchendenians the visitors; kick off is 14:00. Find the fixtures list here for 2025.

Musings of an old man: panto season started early!

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

Knebworth claimed their spot in the second round of the County Cup via a penalty shootout on Saturday afternoon, with the hosts failing to capitalise on a dominant performance in 90 minutes.

Knebworth 1, Sarratt Reserves 1; Knebworth won 4-3 on penalties – 13/09/2025

Billy Mulley reports…

With the heavens opening half an hour before kick-off, and with the thunder and lightning following, kick-off was delayed 20 minutes.

However, that did not hinder the hosts, who were fast out of the traps, with Matty Harwood being a particular threat at right wing and Tyler Pullin proving to be very effective in the 10 on his first competitive start.

Knebworth deservedly took the lead in the 25th minute when Harwood’s cross was swept in emphatically by Pullin.

It was more of the same as the rest of the half played, with the Ks controlling the game and getting into some promising positions, without testing the Sarratt goalkeeper frequently enough.

The lead was nearly doubled around the 35th minute when Pullin’s floated corner was met by a Will Oram header, with the Knebworth captain’s effort crashing the bar and somehow staying out.

The start of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Knebworth getting into advanced areas of the pitch on a consistent basis, but being unable to test the goalkeeper enough.

Sarratt started to push for an equaliser in the latter stages as the game became slightly more chaotic and they managed to level following a well-placed cross and a strike back across goal, with the visitors punishing a couple of defensive errors.

The sound of the full-time whistle meant that it was straight to penalties, where Knebworth would go on to win 4-3. Ross Field made a strong save in the process and it was Oram who scored the winning penalty.

Raja Tandoori player of match: Ross Field

Enjoy this week’s Match Programme here

The Ks host their second league game of the season on Saturday 20 September 2025 with Elizabeth Allen the visitors; kick off is 14:00. Find the fixtures list here for 2025.

Musings of an old man: we made jolly hard work of that!

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

Knebworth kicked off the 2025/26 Herts Senior County League Division 3 campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Pitstone & Ivinghoe United Reserves.

Knebworth 1, Pitstone & Ivinghoe United Reserves 2 – 06/09/2025

Billy Mulley reports…

Starting the game off brightly, it was the visitors who opened the scoring around 15 minutes in, when a mishit strike from inside the area wrong-footed Ross Field in the Knebworth goal.

The Ks moved the ball around well and managed to break into the final third a lot in the first half, but they were unable to create anything of note.

It was a fairly similar first 20 minutes of the second half where the Ks were not placed under any real danger but struggled to test the Pitstone goalkeeper. The visitors doubled the lead midway through the second half directly from a (heavily wind-assisted) corner.

Responding excellently to going two goals down, Knebworth went on to really pile the pressure on in the remaining 25 minutes. The introduction of Tyler Pullin helped the Ks to pin the opposition back, whilst the pace of Sim Vilakati and Matty Harwood started to cause plenty of problems.

Captain Will Oram stepped up to pull a goal back with 15 minutes to go, with his 30-yard free-kick proving too much for the Pitstone goalkeeper.

The remaining 15 minutes was all Knebworth as they searched for what would have been a deserved equaliser. Matty Harwood forced a fantastic reactionary save from the GK when he was played through 1v1. Lucca Kennedy was then unable to convert from close range following a well worked move on the right.

Despite a strong effort and there being plenty of positives to take into next weekend’s County Cup fixture at home to Sarratt Reserves, it eventually finished in a 2-1 defeat.

MK1 Indigo Group player of match: Callum Pickstock

Enjoy this week’s Match Programme here

The Ks host their first cup game of the season on Saturday 13 September 2025 with Sarratt Reserves the visitors in the Herts County Junior Cup; kick off is 15:00. Find the fixtures list here for 2025.

Musings of an old man: at 35 characters, Pitstone & Ivinghoe United Reserves could well have the longest name of a Knebworth opponent?!

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

Knebworth’s penultimate home fixture ended in defeat despite an encouraging performance.

Knebworth 1, Broxbourne Badgers 3 – 29/03/2025

Knebworth were 1-0 down at the break, with Broxbourne taking the lead against the run of play through a well-worked headed goal.

The Ks fell further behind after conceding a penalty and collapsing to gift a third goal.

Talisman Billy Mulley snatched a consolation in added time after rounding the goalkeeper.

Main Door Security player of match: James Moore

Matchday programme available here

The Ks host their final home game of the season on Saturday 5 April 2025 with Hadley Veterans the visitors; kick off is 15:00. Find the fixtures list here for 2025.

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

Following what was a cruel 90th-minute blow the week before against the league leaders, Knebworth put in yet another strong defensive showing in a 2-1 victory against Hinton Reserves.

Hinton Reserves 1, Knebworth Seniors 2 – 15/03/2025

Billy Mulley (pictured) opened the scoring for the visitors following a swift Knebworth counter-attack, with Ernie Greengrass unselfishly passing across to Bill, who decided to cut back in and finish with his left foot.

The Ks’ lead was doubled a few minutes before half-time stemming from excellent work from Reece Lean to win the ball high up and cut the ball back for Mulley whose left-footed first-time effort beat the Hinton goalkeeper at his front post.

Despite Hinton then controlling the ball for large periods of the second half, Knebworth were resolute and prevented the hosts from creating anything of note.

Hinton did pull a scrappy goal back with 15 minutes to go, but Knebworth held on to secure all three points!

Main Door Security player of match: Billy Mulley

The Ks have next weekend off and then play their final two home games of the season, starting with Broxbourne Badgers on Saturday 29 March at 14:00 and followed by Hadley on Saturday 5 April at the later time of 15:00. Find the fixtures list here for 2025.

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.