TALIB Copeland scored a hat-trick as Knowle began their first-ever Step Five campaign with a remarkable 7-0 rout of FC Stratford, writes George Revell.
Copeland’s treble and Knowle’s seven-goal triumph blew away the bumper crowd of 451 spectators – boosted by the United Counties League Premier Division South groundhop event.
Further goals from Anton Powell, Odane Barnes, Connor Mort and Jack Duggan ensured Knowle enjoyed a memorable start to life at Step Five.
The result means Knowle sit second in the UCL Premier Division South table after Atherstone Town triumphed by the same margin on the opening day of the season.
Stratford started the game with intent only for Knowle to break the deadlock on 12 minutes as Powell latched onto a loose ball and arrowed a powerful effort past Bears stopper Sam Cooksey.
Copeland spurned a glorious chance to double Knowle’s lead when Dylon Bennett found him with a pinpoint ball over the top, but his cross-shot from a tight angle found neither a teammate at the back post nor the bottom right corner.
However, Copeland atoned for his earlier miss with Knowle’s second goal on 24 minutes after he controlled the ball on his chest and showed great composure to slot the ball under Cooksey.
The Robins scored a third goal on 33 minutes as Barned glanced home from close range after George Seeley headed Copeland’s deep cross from the left back across goal.
And Knowle struck again three minutes later when Copeland rifled a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty nine minutes before half time.
The home side picked up where they left off after the break and scored a fifth goal on 56 minutes when Mort’s low drive crossed the line via the aid of the post.
And Copeland completed his hat-trick on the hour mark with a low effort into the bottom left corner after a near interchanged down the left.
The Robins made it a magnificent seven on 73 minutes when Duggan met Seeley’s corner with an emphatic header when left unmarked in the box.
