Lge (A)
Won 2-1
(H/T 1-0)

An injury time winner from substitute Toby Sainsbury inflicted a first league defeat on Knowle FC at Hampton Rd on Saturday.

The Magpies were forced into changes following Tuesdays Cup win against Sileby, Mo Khan was still struggling with an injury and Lachi Codrington took the no 9 shirt and there were starts for the midweek hero Lewis Fisher and Joel Machakaire who replaced Tyson Aluko and Ellis Andrews respectively.

On a pitch that wasn’t conducive to passing football there was little or no action to report on for the first 25 minutes with both teams cancelling each other out but 3 minutes later that changed. Luke Stevens’ long ball into the left-hand channel was won by Codrington and as the ball ran loose LEWIS ISOM picked it up 25 yards out and found the bottom corner giving home keeper Matt Horton no chance. According to the home bench it was a “fowel” for at least 5 minutes after the goal was scored fortunately the referee disagreed. After this the game reverted to type save for a half chance for Kobi Bivens just before the break but he mis- kicked after Dan White had headed down an Isom free kick.

HALF TIME KNOWLE 0 MOULTON 1

The game was a bit livelier at the start of the second half and Bivens was sent clear by Codrington but was harshly adjudged offside and then Bivens, Isom and Adam Dicks were involved in a flowing move down the right with Codrington not able to get on the end of the cross.

Being on top Moulton needed a second goal as it was obvious that the Robins would have a spell eventually and they did start to press and top scorer Talib Copeland did force Adam North into a smart save with half an hour to go. The Magpies were coming under some pressure now as the home side pressed for an equaliser but some resolute defending was keeping Knowle at bay, meanwhile in a little respite at the other end Horton could only palm a Terry Falcini corner straight to Fisher, his first attempt was blocked and the follow up through a flurry of legs was cleared off the line. With all the hard work seemingly done the visitors shot themselves in the foot with 5 minutes left, Dante Grey gave away an un-necessary corner and from the kick Copeland flicked in a header at the near post to level the scores.

To the whole teams credit they dug in and grabbed the winner 2 minutes into added time. Adam Dicks forced a corner and from Fisher’s kick Bivens won the ball at the near post and then pulled it back across the 6-yard box where SAINSBURY was lurking and he took one touch before poking it past Horton from close range.

It was never going to be a spectacle, but Moulton deserved the points on effort alone and extended their unbeaten league run to 9 games.

FINAL SCORE KNOWLE 1 MOULTON 2

TEAM North, Dicks, Machakaire (Andrews 67), Grey, Stevens, Fisher, Falcini (Sainsbury 77) White, Codrington (Ansu 86), Bivens, Isom. SUBS un-used Aluko, Mensah.

Editor - Steve Alibone