KNOWLE slipped to their first defeat since the opening day of the season after losing 3-2 against local rivals Hampton in the Saturday Vase.
Despite two goals from Tom Craine at the Draintech Community Ground the Robins relinquished their grip on the trophy they won last season.
Knowle were playing their first game for two weeks and looked rusty in the opening exchanges as Robins goalkeeper Craig Johnson made some fine saves to keep the tie scoreless.
And Knowle took the lead against the run of play on 21 minutes when Craine pounced on a mistake at the back to break the deadlock.
However, Hampton equalised on the stroke of half time as Cameron Seivwright found the bottom corner to send the teams into the break level.
Despite Knowle making a strong start to the second period, Hampton completed the turnaround on the hour mark when Ainsley Seivwright fired home from close range.
And Hampton extended their lead through Matthew Garbett’s deflected shot eight minutes later before Craine reduced the deficit on 80 minutes after rounding the keeper before finishing into an empty net.
Hampton lost goalkeeper Conor Bashford to a nasty injury with seven minutes left to play as outfielder Alex Birch took his place between the sticks.
However, the Robins were unable to find an equaliser, failing to test stand-in keeper Birch, as the club’s 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end.
Knowle are next in action away at Coventrians on Saturday, December 16 with kick-off at 2pm at Colliery Sports Ground.
