KNOWLE finished their pre-season campaign with a 3-2 defeat against Midland Football League Division Three side AFC Birmingham.
Goals from Jay Rendell and Lewis Clarke shortly after half time put the Robins ahead only for AFC Birmingham to reply with two goals of their own having opened the scoring at the end of the first half at South Bromsgrove High School.
Knowle play one division above Birmingham who matched the Robins throughout the first half.
And Birmingham’s Harley Baker scored a superb goal from distance on the stroke of half time that left Knowle stopper Craig Johnson with no chance.
However, Knowle equalised at the start of the second period when Rendell pounced on a defensive error and made no mistake.
And the Robins completed a quickfire turnaround just two minutes later as Clarke turned home George Seeley’s corner.
However, Birmingham won a penalty on 73 minutes and drew level from the spot before striking again two minutes later courtesy of Shaun Hunter following a goalmouth scramble.
Knowle’s joint manager, Clive Seeley, said: “Sometimes one learns more from a defeat, than from a victory. We certainly learned a lot from this defeat.
“Yet, there were positives, Ben Jones in defence and Jay Rendell for example. Now we look towards the start of the league season.”
The Robins begin their league campaign at home to Alcester Town on Saturday, August 5 with kick-off at 3pm at The Draintech Community Ground.
