Category: Adult teams

Adult teams, First team, Reserve team, Uncategorized

September 2021 – First Team & Reserves

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Saturday 4 September 2021

Knebworth 0 – 3 Hertford United – Aubrey Cup

The game started really scruffy with both teams struggling to find any real rhythm, the first half saw few chances for both teams.

As the game settled Knebworth were finding joy with the switch of play and we created a brilliant chance, Joe Swadling finding himself free on the right to play a brilliant cross into the box where Jimmy Agnew was free at the back post for only the Hertford keeper to pull off a fine save.

The game become a bit stretched in the last 25 mins with Hertford always a threat on the counter especially from Knebworth set pieces. The first half finished 0-0 which was a fair reflection of the first half.

The second half started as the first finished, Knebworth pushing forward but Hertford being dangerous on the counter, but again no real big chances from either side. The game looked to be heading for extra time until a ball into the Knebworth box caused some confusion and the impressive Kieran Fordham in goal looked to be under pressure and fouled as he took the cross failed to gather it and it fell perfectly for Hertford’s striker to pass into the empty net.

This rattled the Knebworth lads and for the next 15 mins they failed to put any real pressure on Hertford who in fairness looked dangerous on the counter as Knebworth looked for an equaliser.

Unfortunately this didn’t happen and again a ball cleared out from the back by Hertford caught our midfield cold, a sliced clearance fell nicely for the Hertford winger to play a ball into the Knebworth box for an unmarked striker to score.

With ten minutes to go this was game over but to be fair to Knebworth they kept on playing and showed a good attitude and looked to of scored what they thought was a good goal to be wiped off by Hertford’s assistant referee for a foul on the keeper.

There was also still time for a great chance for Swadling who found himself free again bearing down on goal for the Hertford keeper to pull off a good save again.

Congratulations to Hertford and good luck in the next round.

A game of missed big chances for the Ks who must learn to take their chances, but really positive from Knebworth and back to league action next week at Aldenham.

Raja Tandoori man of the match: Jack Holmes

Jack Holmes – image courtesy of Alan Sleator, Wonderful PR

Hemel Hempstead Rovers Reserves 3 – 0 Knebworth Reserves

Reserves skipper Matt Cooper reports

After three wins out of three to start the season, Knebworth travelled away to Hemel Hempstead to face a Rovers side who had won one and lost one to start the season.

With unavailability and a few injuries, the Reserves had a slightly different looking XI but it didn’t stop them for starting the game well, keeping the ball and creating a number of good chances. The pitch was a real leveller with incredibly long grass and uneven bounces everywhere.

It was a quickfire double from the hosts that took the wind out of Knebworth’s sails, with a 40 yard cross turned shot that fortunately found the top corner, followed by a deflected finish from a corner.

Knebworth continued to create chances without taking them and were unlucky not to go in to half time 2-1 down after Liam George’s shot was incorrectly ruled as not going over the line.

The second half was another frustrating affair for the Reserves as chances went begging again. The hosts scored a late third on the break as the Ks pushed for a comeback.

The game ended 3-0 to a very physical Hemel who will cause a lot of problems to teams in this league at their home ground. Next week, Knebworth host Bushey as we look to get back on track.

Extrastaff man of the match: Liam George

Liam George in action – image courtesy of The Cold End

Adult teams, First team

Saturday 21 August – First Team

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Knebworth travelled to title contenders Oracle Components but unfortunately the match was abandoned around 55 minutes due to Charlie Pratt needing urgent medical attention.

Contesting a challenge, Charlie landed onto an opposition player’s hip. Fortunately he left in good spirits, and everyone at the Club wishes him all the best and a speedy recovery. The response of the squad was fantastic in quickly realising the severity of the situation and supporting Adrian.

Charlie Pratt is recovering from a match-stopping injury

The First Team are back at home next week, Bovingdon the visitors for 14:00 kick off with Reserves playing afterwards.

The First will be seeking to kick start their season to reflect the strengthening of the squad and the positive work going on in training.

Adult teams, Reserve team

Saturday 21 August – Reserves

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Reserves skipper Matt Cooper reports

Knebworth welcomed Aldenham Reserves in the first home game of the season, the Reserves looking to build on an opening day thumping of Bushey Rangers.

With availability and injury issues it was a different looking side from last week with first starts for Joe O’Dell, Harry Wilkinson, Marcus McKechnie, Max Smith and Ben Phillips.

Knebworth took control from the get go and dominated a first half with lots of possession and chances. The front three of Smith, George Phillips and O’Dell were running riot, and did everything but score.  The midfield was controlled and purposeful with every attack with Alfie Nellis, Liam George and Wilkinson winning the individual battles and playing some brilliant through balls.

Half time came with the score at 0-0, and after a positive half time team talk Knebworth came out looking to grab an early goal and kill the game off.

The deadlock was finally broken when a well worked move down the right hand side ended with Smith roasting the full back and delivering a ball in to be smashed home on the volley by G.Phillips, making in two in two for the head-banded attacker.

Chances continued to come for the Reserves but a mixture of close misses and good goalkeeping from Aldenham kept it at 1-0. A new look back four for Knebworth kept it very tight all game, with Cooper and McKechnie winning everything and starting numerous attacks. Jason Fleet and Nathan Garrod doing brilliantly in both defence and attack.

Keeper B.Phillips had little to do and the boys saw off the game comfortably to win 1-0 and secure a second victory of the season.

Raja Tandoori man of the match: Joe O’Dell

Stevenage Couriers man of the match: Matt Cooper

Back to back wins and the Reserves are at home again next week, Chipperfield Corinthians the visitors for 16:00 kick off.

Skipper Matt Cooper

Adult teams, First team

Saturday 14 August – First Team

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First Team coach Tristan Potkins reports…

Knebworth hosted Hinton at The Rec in a repeat of last season’s opening fixture. The Ks were supported by members of the U7s squad who became our first mascots of the campaign; thank you Archie, Jack, Jacob, and Maxwell! Both teams paid tribute to former Herts FA President Bert Dearman who sadly passed away recently.

Mascots from the U7s squad

The game started well for the hosts with Knebworth on the front foot after a very productive pre-season. A move that started on the left wing, worked its way back to Ben Phillips in goal and all the way out the other side, ended with a great through ball from Joe Swadling into Reece Hurren who just couldn’t quite direct it goalwards. The game’s first big chance.

It became apparent quite quickly Hinton we’re looking for the ball over the top, being unsuccessful on the whole with Jack Holmes and Myles Thomas dealing with it effectively. Another two chances then fell to the returning Charlie Pratt, one where he was unfortunate not to make contact at the back post and another with the defender backtracking where he just couldn’t quite curl the ball into the back post.

Hinton then on the break got in down the left wing, crossing it into the box to score from a header.

Just before half time a quick corner from Hinton resulted in the Ks going in two goals down. Chris Grindal, unfortunately injured in pre-season, finding out he’s not quite as naturally fit as he was 10 years ago, declaring as he came off at half time that he is going to get fit, no matter what it takes.

The second half followed a similar pattern but with Knebworth seeing the effects frustration can have on performance, things not quite going our way. Hinton to their credit stuck to their game and some good additions to the side from last season made a difference. A notable volley from Kieran Flynn the highlight for Knebworth just being tipped over the bar, Hinton scored a worldy free kick to make the final score 3-0 after Marcin Bator had stopped a counter attack.

Raja Tandoori man of the match: Marcin Bator

Positives to take away, but overall a frustrating day not to get the result we were hoping for and we felt our preparations deserved.

Next Saturday, 21 August, sees the First Team travel to Oracle.

Adult teams, Reserve team

Saturday 14 August – Reserves

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Reserves skipper Matt Cooper reports

After the hard work of pre season, Knebworth Reserves travelled to Bushey Rangers for the season opener. 

A number of new faces for the Reserves this year with six players making their debut, it was a slow start for Knebworth as both teams eased themselves into the new season.

The deadlock was broken after Bushey took advantage of some sloppy passing out from the Knebworth defence. The Reserves dug in for the rest of half and grew into the game – finally getting their reward when a great run and pass from Tommy Rowe found George Phillips to tuck home from close range.

It was 1-1 at the break and after a firm half time team talk Knebworth came out and dominated the second half. A quick fire double from Elliot Cracknell, including a brilliant volley following a long through ball from ‘keeper Fordham, fired Knebworth into control. The defence and midfield worked hard to keep the opposition at bay, and it was a direct free kick goal from Liam George that put the game beyond Bushey. At some point the hosts netted a second goal.

The back four and goalkeeper held it together brilliantly under increasing pressure in the closing stages, and a bonus fifth goal was added when Tommy Rowe streaked though and put it over the goalkeeper to round off a brilliant team performance.

Knebworth closed out a great 5-2 win to start the season.

Extrastaff man of the match: Max Mahoney

Next week, Saturday 21 August, the Reserves host Aldenham for 15:00 kick off at The Rec (SG3 6AH)

Skipper Matt Cooper in action