Club News

Four-midable Firsts

First Team Manager Adrian Turner reflects…

On Saturday we traveled to Bovingdon in the first round of the Aubrey Cup. After a tough game the week before we as coaches learned a few lessons and brought that into this week’s game. Bovingdon ‘A’ where a very young side and at the start of the game their full back was causing a few issues with the switch of play over our full back, but once we got hold of that we started to dominate the possession and game. It wasn’t long before our dominance was rewarded when a great through ball in behind there left back found Jimmy Agnew in on goal only to be brought down by the home team’s goal keeper; Charlie Pratt stepped up and dispatched the penalty. This gave us even more confidence and belief and we really started playing some great football. Again a great through ball from Louis Curtis who had a great game in the middle of the park found Agnew in behind the left back to this time slot away and double the lead.

Bovingdon were always a threat with the ball over the top and caught us out a couple of times but alert goalkeeping from Dan Smith kept the first half clean sheet. In the second half we carried on playing some great football with Kieran Flynn pulling the strings from the deeper role and George Kirtsides cutting in from his wide role to cause Bovingdon lots of problems. We added a third from a really well taken team goal with Alex Richardson finishing off a fine move. Bovingdon had another chance when they headed wide with just our Smith to beat but put it wide. George Phillips came on and added a well deserved fourth. A good win and a well earned clean sheet going into the league meeting with Hatfield. Well done lads.

Extrastaff man of the match: Charlie Pratt, with notable mention to Christian Grindal

Next Saturday, 3 October, the First Team travel to Hatfield United for their fourth Herts Senior County League Division One fixture; 14:30 kick off at Birchwood, Hatfield AL10 0AN.

Grieveson goals not enough for Reserves

Bailey Rose makes his reporting debut…

On a wet afternoon, Knebworth Reserves hosted Sarratt Reserves at The Rec. The Ks were coming off a 1-0 loss to Division 2 side Wormley Reserves in the Greg Cup, where they displayed many positives.

Sarratt started the game as the better team as the Ks looked to compose their frantic start. Early in the game Sarratt scored their first goal as the Ks were yet to get a foot on the game. A free kick was awarded to Knebworth on the half line which Jack Dunn played long looking for target man, Tom Grieveson. After the defender misjudged the flight of the ball, new fans-favourite Grieveson slotted the ball home to level things.

As the first half continued, Sarratt grew stronger in the game, responding well making the game, 2-1 then 3-1 in quick concession. The Ks seemed to lose confidence, and frustration amongst individuals was evident. Sarratt’s right back picked up the ball just inside of the Ks half and managed to beat four Knebworth defenders before slotting the ball in the bottom right corner to make it 4-1. As the half was drawing to an end, Knebworth started an attack on the right with the impressive Tommy Rowe and Ollie Mitchell. After linking up, the ball was swung towards the six-yard box, where the ball was met by the diving head of the studded Puma Kings wearing, Tom Grieveson, resulting in the score being 4-2 at half time.

The second half began and the Ks looked to press the opposition high up the pitch and counteract the threat of Sarratt’s long ball. However, Sarratt’s left winger picked up the ball inside Knebworth’s half and managed to lob Alfie Pettitt with an expert finish. It was a finish no keeper would have saved, making the score 5–2. The Ks continued to work hard and showed a much better attitude in comparison to the first half, moving the ball at a faster tempo and committing in challenges. Grieveson netted his third goal of the afternoon only to see it ruled out after growling at the opposition defender who swung wildly and missed the ball enabling the striker to put the ball into the net. With the goal wiped off the scoresheet and Grieveson getting a yellow card for his comedic antics. The game was brought to an end with the score finishing 5-2. The Ks looked a much more determined side during the second half however their slow start meant they were always chasing the game. The boys will look to respond to today’s performance by getting a win against next week’s opposition Evergreen Reserves.

Raja Tandoori man of the match: Tom Grieveson

If you missed the matchday programme, download it here

Next Saturday, 12 September, the Reserves welcome Evergreen to the Recreation Ground (SG3 6AH) for their fourth Herts Senior County League Division Three fixture; 14:30 kick off.

First Team pay for sloppy start

First Team Coach Tristan Potkins dusts off his English GCSE to reflect…

With ten players unavailable through either injury or being away, both squads were light this Saturday. That being said, there was more than enough to get the result for the First Team.

A slow start saw us go behind to a soft goal in the first five minutes, so soft that the poor reaction to having conceded led to us conceding another. Oracle are clearly a good footballing side, but they had what seems to be becoming a trend in division one, the big lad up front. This season with the new management, new players, new system, a lot of it is going to be about adapting quickly and efficiently, and in these scenarios thus far we have failed to do so.

Knebworth at 2-0 down did start to play a bit, with a flying Jimmy Agnew frequently getting in down the right hand side, with almost two identical crosses flying across the box in the space of a couple minutes with nobody able to get on the end of it. A few free kicks from decent positions gave us a chance to whip a ball in, but it just was not happening.

Before long Oracle had gone on the break and got another. 3-0 at half time and a bit of a dressing down, Knebworth came out with a much-improved attitude second half. After Oracle finding a fourth through a good phase of play, an injury to the battling Jack Dunn saw myself have to slot into Centre Back alongside Myles, and Alex Richardson, the eventual goal scorer come onto the wing. Knebworth’s goal came from more fantastic work down the flanks, with switching play becoming more of a weapon when utilised well, Oracle failed to threaten again other than a very good header from a corner seeing Knebworth lose the second half 2-1.

Although another bad result, it feels a kind of turning point in terms of a realisation of what is missing, and what we can do when we attribute ourselves in a positive way. A massive opportunity next week to springboard our season in the Aubrey Cup, maintaining the utmost confidence that once we get this right, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Hold me to that.

If I were to get a choice for man of the match, I think regardless of the score line Dan Smith was fantastic in one-on-one situations, with Myles Thomas playing in his fourth position of the season doing everything he could to contain the Oracle offence.

If you missed the matchday programme, download it here

Next Saturday, 26 September, the First Team travel to Bovingdon in the historic Aubrey Cup; 14:30 kick off at Green Lane, Bovingdon HP3 0LA.

Reserves suffer narrow defeat in the Greg Cup

Roving reporter Henry Harbottle-Day made the trip to Wormley…

Knebworth Reserves fell just short at the first hurdle in the Greg Cup after a 1-0 loss away at Wormley Rovers FC Reserves.

The opening 30 minutes consisted of no real chance for either side, with the best chance of opening third being a shot from inside the box for the opposition which was well saved by Alfie Pettitt.

The opposition took the lead though 5 minutes before half time. Seems like this has to be copied every week at the moment; poor set piece defending from Knebworth, and the second wave of attack resulted in a Wormley shot being finished from inside the 18 yards past Alf in net.

As the second half began it seemed to be a battle of the midfields. Sidney Kizito and Liam George, who was making his debut, putting in strong tenacious defensive shifts to break down many a play the opposition crafted. Carrying on his fine form from last week, Alfie made a fantastic save to deny the opposition from making it 2-0 when he sprung to the left with a strong palm, stopping an almost certain goal.

Knebworth’s best chance of the game came not long after. A defence splitting pass from Kieran Flynn in midfield caused a Kneb player to be bought down inside the box and win a penalty. Tom Grieveson stepped up, sending the keeper the wrong way but unfortunately placing it over the bar. Score remains 1-0.

Another solid save from Alf yet again denied the opposition, with one of their players getting sent off in the process. Wormley continued to attack late on when Kneb ran out of legs, hitting the bar with a good strike just outside the box.

Too little pressure from Knebworth late on though meant they were knocked out the Greg Cup in the first round, a defeat which brings a lot of positives after playing a better opposition.

Extrastaff man of the match: Liam George

Next Saturday, 26 September, the Reserves host Sarratt Reserves in the Herts Senior County League Division Three; 15:00 kick off at the Recreation Ground (SG3 6AH).

First Team suffer narrow defeat at Tring

Goalkeeping coach Ryan Stapleton reports…

Following on from last week’s season opener Knebworth visited Tring Athletic Reserves.

Chances were frequent within the first 15 minutes with a header going close from a corner for Knebworth, and Tring forcing saves and blocks in what was an end to end game throughout.

Continuing the end to end theme, Tring had a chance cleared off the line through some resilient Knebworth defending. Knebworth finished the half stronger with Tring clearly tiring.

The start of the second half followed the same pattern of the first where Tring took the lead through a well worked goal following a throw in.

Knebworth then really came into the game, with a great effort hitting the post and the Tring goalkeeper making a save from a couple of yards out. Then an extremely controversial moment followed where the referee denied Knebworth a penalty.

However the game finished 1-0 to Tring in a deserved victory. The system is really coming together for us and there are plenty of positives to take into next week.

Extrastaff man of the match: Charlie Pratt

Next Saturday, 19 September, the First Team host Oracle Components in Herts Senior County League Division One; 15:00 kick off at the Recreation Ground (SG3 6AH).

Reserves squander two-nil lead to lose six-goal thriller

Henry Harbottle-Day reports from The Rec…

Knebworth Reserves, playing their first home game of the season at the Rec, struggled in a 4-2 loss to Hatfield Athletic. Looking to build on their away win last time out, Knebworth started with a relatively rotated side due to first team call ups.

After a cagey opening quarter, with a lot of the play coming from the two midfields, Hatfield got the first big chance of the game. Alfie Pettitt made his first big save of the game with a fine stretch to the left of his goal which forced a corner; resulting in the ball being swung in and Knebworth clearing off the line.

It wasn’t until just before halftime that Knebworth made the breakthrough. A corner swung in resulted in a goal mouth scrabble which was finished well by George Phillips. Assisted by Sam Nelson.

The second half was where the game came alive. Knebworth doubled their lead right after the break with Robbie Collis scoring a fine header past the Hatfield keeper, yet again assisted by Nelson. The two-goal lead was cut short, however. Sustained pressure from Hatfield resulted in Pettitt getting booked for sliding, 30 yards outside his box; he was so far out, the referee asked for his passport in French. Not long after this Knebworth were calamitous at the back which resulted in Hatfield lobbing Alf after he had to try to force a save. 2-1.

On around the 60^th minute mark Pettitt was forced into action again. Hatfield played an over the top ball, beating the Knebworth line, forcing Alf to make a top save to his left to deny the Hatfield forward the chance of making the game level. Not long after Pettitt was forced into another save with a strong dive to his left after Hatfield looked to find the bottom corner.

You can tell Alfie had his girlfriend and her old man in attendance today. The best save of the day came from Pettitt when a Hatfield corner was swung in, resulting in yet another goal mouth scrabble. Hatfield looked to find the top left corner to make it 2-2 but were denied by a miraculous strong palm from Alf to tip the ball over the bar.

Begrudgingly though, it wasn’t long after this Hatfield did find the equaliser. Yet again, more poor set piece defending from Knebworth meant Hatfield did finally make it 2-2 despite Alfie’s heroics on the day. After this game the Knebworth coaching staff really do need to have a look at set piece defending (maybe take to Football Manager).

Hatfield finished the game with a flurry after it looked like Knebworth just ran out of legs. A valiant effort in the second half and some passion from Sidney Kizito and Jack Hare wasn’t enough to get a point. Yet again a ball behind the Knebworth defence was latched on to by their forward and finished smartly. Hatfield take the lead for the first time.

The Ks were almost level immediately when Nelson’s beautifully struck free kick 25 yards out whipped over the wall and seemed destined for the top corner of the net, but for Francis in the Hatfield goal to pull off a ‘worldy’ of his own and deny the hosts an equaliser.

This was extended not long after with Knebworth throwing the kitchen sink at it, leading to a quick breakaway from Hatfield and making it 2-4 on the day.

Lessons to be learnt all around for Knebworth Reserves here, with the best take away of the day being Alfie Pettitt’s assured performance in front of his BAE.

Mather Marshall Estate Agents man of the match: Alfie Pettitt

Raja Tandoori man of the match: Bailey Rose

That result leaves the Reserves eighth in the Herts Senior County League Division Three table.

If you missed the matchday programme, download it here

Next Saturday, 19 September, the Reserves travel to Wormley Rovers Reserves in the historic Greg Cup; 15:00 kick off at Church Lane, Wormley, EN10 7QF.