KARTELL O’Neill-Martin scored and was sent off as Knowle came from behind to beat league leaders Sutton United 2-1 to keep their title hopes alive.
The Robins fell behind midway through the first half only for Jack Mullen to draw Knowle level and O’Neill-Martin to grab the winner as both teams finished the game with 10-men at Coleshill Road.
And the result means Knowle now trail Sutton by 10 points in the Midland Football League Division Two table with three games in hand.
Knowle made a sloppy start to the game and were punished on 32 minutes when Tom Massey opened the scoring for Sutton in what had been a scrappy affair.
The goal sparked the Robins into life as Mullen equalised just six minutes later with a fine finish from an acute angle from Reece Staley’s perfect through ball.
And Knowle dominated for the remainder of the half but were unable to force the ball home as Sutton held on to go in level at the break.
The visitors eventually completed the turnaround on 56 minutes as O’Neill-Martin’s shot took a wicked deflection to leave Sutton goalkeeper Reiss Wagstaff with no chance.
A flashpoint arose as the half wore on after Sutton’s Lewis James took exception to a challenge from O’Neill-Martin and appeared to rake his studs down the Knowle man’s calf.
O’Neill-Martin then preceded to push his face into the Sutton man’s forehead twice which left the referee with no choice but to send both players off.
Sutton struggled to test Craig Johnson in the Knowle goal all afternoon and, after another melee broke out in front of the dugout during six minutes of injury time, the final whistle was met by huge roars from Robins’ players and fans alike.
Knowle are next in action away at AFC Somers on Saturday, February 11 in the Saturday Vase.
