Tag: Seniors

Back-to-back wins for Knebworth for the second time this season.

James Moore reports…
St Margaretsbury Reserves 1, Knebworth 2 – 14/12/2024

In a fiercely contested game at the St Margaretsbury Sports and Social Club, Knebworth emerged victorious with a hard-fought 2-1 win over St Margaretsbury Reserves. The match had its share of controversy, drama, and ultimately, a moment of brilliance that sealed the result for the Ks.

The game began with both sides sizing each other up, but it was Knebworth who struck first. A well-delivered corner from Taylor Dingley was met by Reece Leen, who headed the ball further on into the danger area, where Jaime Morley was waiting to finish from close range. The goal sparked immediate debate, as Morley had only just been allowed to re-enter the pitch following treatment for a nosebleed. Despite protests from St Margaretsbury, the referee stood firm, and Knebworth took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The second half saw St Margaretsbury respond with renewed determination, and they soon found their equalizer. A lapse in concentration from Knebworth’s defence allowed a through ball to catch them off guard. The ball was played out wide to a St Margaretsbury player, who delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Amid claims of offside from Knebworth, the referee allowed the goal to stand, levelling the score at 1-1.

Refusing to let the setback derail them, Knebworth pushed forward in search of a winner. Their persistence was rewarded when Reece Leen (who claims the assist) won a free kick in a dangerous area. Stepping up with confidence, Will Oram, who had tried his luck with multiple set pieces earlier in the game, curled a sublime effort over the wall and into the back of the net. The strike proved decisive, restoring Knebworth’s lead at 2-1.

From that point on, Knebworth dug deep to protect their advantage. A disciplined defensive effort saw them repel St Margaretsbury’s late attacks, with goalkeeper and defenders alike rising to the occasion. The final whistle brought relief and jubilation for Knebworth, who celebrated a well-earned three points. This victory marks back-to-back wins for Knebworth, pushing them up the league table to fifth place with 16 points. The team’s recent form will undoubtedly instil confidence as they aim to climb further in the standings.

Main Door Security player of match: Reece Leen

The Ks will be at home on Saturday, 21 December, for their final game of 2024 when Chorleywood visit – kick off is 14:00 and the mince pies will be on offer!

Find the fixtures list here for 2025.

Knebworth record a second ‘double’ of the season, this time over Sun Sports Rovers.

Reece Leen reports…
Sun Sports Rovers 0, Knebworth Seniors 3 – 30/11/2024

Knebworth travelled to Watford to face an out of form Sun Sports Rovers attempting to replicate the prior result in the home fixture earlier in the season. Similar to the previous meeting, the first half left a lot to be desired. Although accompanied with some decent chances, the trend for the season continued and chances were wasted through poor decision making. Knebworth found a lot of joy down the right through Matt Harwood’s direct dribbling, leading the oranges into good positions on the pitch. However due to lapses in concentration and decision making leading to crosses being cleared out or for corners. Knebworth failed to make the most of the height advantage from set pieces with the most notable attempts at goal being headers from Alex Parker and Reece Leen both being blazed over and wide respectively. From the off Knebworth looked solid defensively with the little pressure from Sun Sports being dealt with comprehensively. It is abundantly clear that confidence in the oranges backline is growing as Knebworth played out from the back efficiently, working with the midfielders the Ks looked sharp transitioning from defence to attack. However, progressive passes played into the hands of Sun Sports by the use of long and high balls. For the majority of the first half Knebworth operated in the Sun Sports final third with Taylor Dingley and Billy Mulley consistently being found in pockets around for the final pass not to arrive. Nearer the end of the first half Knebworth’s pressure finally broke the deadlock as Paul Clarke’s work rate saw him pick up the ball off the Sun Sports ’10’ to thread the ball down the line for Mulley, who’s cross was redirected over the keeper by an opposition centre half. 1-0 Knebworth.

From captain Will Oram’s half time message it was not good enough. The Ks never made it out of first gear. Similar to the first half, Sun Sports provided little to no threat with the most notable of attempts on target dealt with comfortably by Harry Crews. Knebworth continued to mount pressure on their opposition, creating a fair amount of half chances just after the interval. As the oranges turned the screw; they found half chances turning into big chances with the first being clever passing until the ball ended up at Dingley’s feet on the edge of the 18 yard box. He dispatched this sublimely off the inside of the post to double the lead. The Ks’ precision in transition led to an Oram long ball finding the feet of Leen for the striker’s attempt to be saved by the Sun Sports number one. The duo combined again as Oram’s low cross found the feet of Leen who decided to pass the ball back to the keeper on his right foot. Knebworth finally made it 3-0 as link up play between the midfield and Mulley sliding the ball across to Dingley who blasted the ball into the same bottom left hand corner leaving the Sun Sports keeper no chance. The chances continued to occur as Harwood was driving at the Sun Sports backline only to be brought down on the edge of the box. This free kick was taken by our skipper whose effort struck the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Shortly after Oram found his headed effort being tipped onto the post and out for a corner. This corner was taken by Luke Hewitt who used some extraordinary quick thinking and decided to lump the corner flag into the box instead of the ball.

Overall a good performance from Knebworth defensively and a deserved result. With more clinical finishing the oranges may have scored six or seven. All eyes are now on next week’s away clash with Welwyn United.

Main Door Security player of match: Paul Clarke

The Ks are back on the road next Saturday, 7 December, for the third of four consecutive away games and a trip to Welwyn United; fixtures list here. The previous meeting’s match report can be found here: Knebworth 3, Welwyn United 3 – 26/10/2024

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.