KNOWLE surrendered an early lead in a narrow 2-1 defeat against Nuneaton Town to exit the FA Vase at the second round qualifying stage.
An early goal from Hayden Purves put the Robins ahead only for the visitors to turn the game on its head at the Draintech Community Ground.
The defeat sees Knowle exit the competition at the second round qualifying stage in the club’s first appearance in the Vase for 16 years.
Nuneaton play one level above the Robins while Knowle went into the cup tie on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run.
And the home side made a dream start when Purves finished Talib Copeland’s cutback from 10-yards out with just five minutes on the clock.
However, the visitors equalised later in the first half as Michael McGrath turned home a low ball in from the right from close range.
The Robins hit the post before the break and struck the woodwork a second time after the interval.
And Nuneaton eventually completed the turnaround when Kyle Jardine curled a free-kick into the top-right corner of the net from 20-yards out.
Knowle are next in action against Coventry Copsewood on Tuesday, September 23 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Allard Way.
