Club News

Another late winner at The Rec decided a close contest, ending Knebworth’s three-game unbeaten run.

Callum Crouch reports…
Knebworth Seniors 1, Elizabeth Allen Old Boys 2 – 16/11/2024

Coming off two wins, Knebworth hosted Elizabeth Allen who have only lost one game so far this season.

The first half Elizabeth Allen started strong and quick but didn’t create many chances. Knebworth held their lines very well, being strong and compact. Knebworth grew into the game getting, into Elizabeth Allen’s half, creating problems and half chances, the pressure in the first half did not stop from both sides however Knebworth kept pressing and low and behold a chance was created and Taylor Dingley hit the ball on a perfect volley guiding it to the keepers right giving him no hope in saving it.

After the restart Elizabeth Allen kept their pressure up creating problems for Knebworth and soon enough the ball comes out and Elizabeth Allen find themselves being level again. Half time comes and the score is 1-1, second half starts and Knebworth show their quality by passing the ball around Allen with ease.

Deep into the second half Elizabeth Allen get a free kick in a dangerous area and manage to score putting the visitors ahead. Elizabeth Allen kept the pressure on Knebworth creating chances down both flanks, however Knebworth kept their line strong and Elizabeth Allen found themselves offside a few times. With five minutes till the full whistle Elizabeth Allen’s striker finds himself offside but doesn’t agree with the decision and things become very heated with both teams coming together. Once the game got underway again not much happened with the ref blowing to end the game ending with Elizabeth Allen taking the three points.

Herts Landscape Supplies player of match: Paul Clarke

Matchday programme available here

The Ks are off to Hemel Hempstead next Saturday, 23 November, as they start a run of four away games; fixtures list here.

Special thanks to Alan Sleator for the photos.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.