The disappointment of being knocked out of cups at the semi final stage is important to players and staff alike to learn from such experiences. However, team performance on the day was well below par and excuses are not something we as a club or group have ever looked at using, and its now, how, as individuals and collectively we react to this.

The game itself saw Leicester Road take the early initiative controlling the start of the game with good ball retention being patient and looking to create goalscoring opportunities, and after 9 minutes the first real opportunity presented itself when from a wide free kick, Jake Holt's curling cross was met by James Hicks who's headed connection on the ball couldn't have been any better and had goal written all over it, but credit to the Knowle goalkeeper who spread himself as he jumped and with not knowing too much about it, managed to block the attempt with his left boot.
Throughout the first half, Leicester Road again found themselves unlucky not to take the lead through goal attempts by Holt, Hicks and Matthew Bradshaw, who found themselves all in good goal scoring positions, but with their attempted shots all missing the target. H/T Knowle 0-0 LRFC.

The second half saw Knowle grow in confidence and in-turn enjoy more of the ball than they had done during the first half and in the 54th minute, they took the lead from a long ball forward which exposed a little hesitancy and with the Knowle centre forward not giving up and applying the pressure he found himself latching onto the ball that had now travelled just inside the Leicester Road penalty area and with a header, beat goalkeeper Will Highland with ease. 1-0 Knowle FC.

This was the breakthrough you could see that Knowle were hoping for and this lifted the home side to run and work hard to preserve their lead. It was now up to Leicester Road to find a way through and to take risks especially as the game progressed into the last 15 minutes of the game.
Jordan Ponticelli replaced Jordan Mellon after 75 minutes to inject more speed and goal threat and with 8 minutes to go, Josh Smith was sent forward from his central defensive role to add additional height and presence up front, playing now with a back 3 with Leicester Road now having to adopt a a more direct route in search of an equalising goal, and in the 91st minute this was so close in coming when Ponticelli's creativity and speed down the right saw him beat the Knowle full back. He then played a fabulous weighted pass across the face of the goal but as Josh Smith looked destined to slide in and slot the ball home, he was thwarted by a last ditch interception by the Knowle defender who managed to block to safety with the ball rolling back into the grateful goalkeepers arms.

One last chance did fall to Jake Holt when Hicks again held the ball up well, this time from inside the Knowle penalty area, but as Holt raced in to support and receive the ball from Hicks, his first touch was a little to heavy and the ball ran away from him and through to the Knowle goalkeeper.

Much credit must be given to Knowle who to a man put their bodies on the line in blocking shots and who showed a lot of heart, commitment and desire in their hard work to fight for the result and have now been rewarded with a cup final appearance in which we all at Leicester Road FC wish them Good Luck in the Final!!

Final score: Knowle FC 1- 0 Leicester Road FC