Knowles lobs it like Beckham at the Rec (From Bournemouth Echo)

Knowles lobs it like Beckham at the Rec

7:14pm Sunday 7th March 2010 in

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CHRIS Knowles – Bashley’s answer to David Beckham – hit a sumptuous strike from inside his own half to maintain his side’s excellent play-off prospects.

The Bournemouth University student made the most of a sloppy clearance from Banbury United keeper Mark Scott – under pressure from Mark Gamble who sustained an ankle injury in the process – to score the only goal of Saturday’s game in the 17th minute.

With Scott stranded out of position, the ball fell invitingly for Knowles. And the midfielder spotted his opportunity and lofted a perfect lob over the visiting stopper to earn high-flying Bash maximum points at the Recreation Ground.

The narrow victory kept Steve Riley’s men in third spot and in with a strong shout of reaching the Southern Premier play-offs for a place in Conference South.

And the Bashley boss could not speak highly enough of the game’s winning goal.

He said: “The ball landed probably just on the halfway line and took one bounce. Chris controlled it then volleyed it. The keeper was back-tracking but it went in the back of the net.

“It was an absolutely fantastic goal – a great bit of awareness – and Chris thoroughly deserved it for his all-round performance.

“It was a brilliant strike from five yards inside his own half. He’ll be talking about that for the rest of his career now – we’ll probably hear about that at every game – but I don’t mind!”

Max Cream had an early effort ruled out for offside before Banbury applied some late pressure, with David Elm called upon to deny David Stone in the closing stages.

Riley added: “It wasn’t our best footballing performance but it was a good three points against a hard-working side.

“It was a bit of a scrappy affair, but we did well. We produced a good, solid and professional performance.”

The New Foresters can jump above second-placed Brackley Town if they get the better of the high-fliers at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday night. Riley is hoping star striker Gamble recovers from his ankle knock in time to feature.

Bashley: Elm, Gazzard (Smith, 86), Ferrett, Middleton, Parnell, Knowles, Kelly, Allen, Cream (Keeler, 71), Gamble (Maxwell, 30), Knight. Unused subs: Mason, Riley.