JAY Rendell scored a hat-trick as Knowle made a winning start to their Saturday Vase campaign with a huge 6-1 victory against Balsall and Berkswell.
Rendell struck twice in the first half to put the Robins in command before later completing his treble with Lewis Clarke, Nathan Corry and Liam O’Donnell all on target at the Draintech Community Ground.
However, despite securing a 10th successive win in all competitions Knowle’s joint-manager Clive Seeley felt his side were not at their best after rotating the squad.
Clive Seeley said: “The result was good, I don’t think we played particularly well although you should never get too greedy, we weren’t fluent.
“We made a few changes and rotated a little bit to utilise the squad, some of the lads coming back from long-term injuries needed it.
“It should have been more but full credit to Balsall and Berkswell, they kept going until the end and they gave their all.”
Knowle took the lead on 11 minutes when Rendell finished well from George Seeley’s perfectly weighted pass before the same players combined for the Robins second goal on the half-hour mark.
However, Balsall reduced the deficit before half time when Jack Archer scored from the penalty spot after Knowle were penalised for a mistimed tackle in the box.
The home side restored their two-goal cushion just three minutes after the interval as Clarke headed home at a corner.
And Rendell then completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes to extend the home side’s lead.
The Robins struck again on 72 minutes when Corry scored a fine solo goal from a tight angle to all but seal the win.
And O’Donnell wrapped up the scoring with three minutes left to play to ensure the Robins made the perfect start to the defence of their Saturday Vase crown.
Knowle are next in action away at Cadbury Athletic on Saturday, October 28 with kick-off at 3pm at the Bournville Recreation Ground.
