KNOWLE Ladies made a stunning start to the season with a dominant 5-0 win against Rugby Town to set out their intentions for the campaign ahead.
And the home side pinned Rugby in their own half for much of the first period as Knowle hit the post and had a goal chalked off before eventually breaking the deadlock.
Demi Rolph jinked past a couple of defenders before beating the goalkeeper with a fine finish after good work from Kate Fleming and debutant Bex Clarke.
And Knowle doubled their lead when Sam Smith thumped a header into the net from Celina Smallwood’s corner to give the home side a two-goal advantage at the interval.
The second half continued in the same vein, although Rugby spurned a glorious chance to halve the deficit when Katy Smirthwaite raced off her line to superbly block the striker’s effort.
Knowle extended their lead when Natalie Gibson drilled an effort into the net after Rolph rounded the full-back before drawing another defender out of position and squaring to the former.
The hosts had another goal ruled out when Jess Holland finished well from Clarke’s cross before young full-back Morgan Betteridge tapped home from close range after good work between Holland and Rolph.
And Gibson completed the scoring with her second of the game with she curled an effort past the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.
The result sees Knowle soar to the top of the West Midlands Regional Women’s Football League Division One South table after the opening weekend.
Knowle are next in action away at Westfields Women on Sunday, September 18 with kick-off at 2pm at Allpay Park.
