Knowle stay perfect at nine men as Vase draw hands Step 5 fresh road trips
The image of the week in the United Counties League belongs to Knowle, who somehow returned from Atherstone Town with all three points and their unbeaten record intact despite finishing the match with eight men. Playing down to nine for 40 minutes and then eight for the final ten, Knowle won 4-3 through a Talib Copeland brace, with Seeley and a Mort penalty completing the scoring. Copeland scored both his goals while Knowle were down to nine, with the club afterwards calling it an afternoon they would never forget. Matt Horton, in goal, added a fourth assist of the season to underline the scale of a night the club themselves called bizarre and confounding. Knowle sit top of the league on a 100% record and next face Eynesbury Rovers, who themselves won 2-1 at home to Yaxley through goals from Rhys Thorpe and Jordan Brown.
The First Round Proper draw for the FA Vase also landed this week. AFC Mansfield were paired away at Atherstone Town, Hinckley AFC will host Eccleshall having beaten Highgate United 6-1 with two goals apiece from Chandler Pegg and Zach Tellyn, one from a returning Prince Ogbe and an own goal. Belper United were drawn at home to Hucknall Town, who progressed at Saffron Dynamo's expense with goals from Callum Orange, Issa Gaye and Kofi Appiah before exiting the Notts Senior Cup on penalties to Clifton All Whites in midweek. Ashby Ivanhoe travel to Foley Meir, while Coton Green were handed a trip to Heanor Town after beating Crewe 2-0, Ryan Andrews among the scorers. Rugby Town will host Tuffley Rovers having seen off Shawbury United 3-2 through Nicholson, Tilley and Wormleighton, and FC Peterborough will welcome Biggleswade United at the Millfield Autoparts Stadium after a David Yisah hat-trick and Alfie Bird penalty save saw off Ipswich Wanderers, the club's furthest ever run in the competition.
Daventry Town suffered penalty shootout heartbreak against Everett Rovers following a 2-2 draw, with the club noting controversy over Mays' disputed effort, and FC Stratford lost 1-0 at Foley Meir. FC Peterborough also endured a frustrating midweek league defeat at Sileby Rangers, dominating possession but falling 1-0 despite hitting the crossbar and having a player sent off for two yellow cards for the same incident.
Away from the pitch, Sherwood Colliery confirmed Aaron Hayer as their new first-team manager, and FC Peterborough announced Lloyd Buchan and Ryan Broughton as the new management team for their Reserves, thanking outgoing boss Ahmed Mustafa. Knowle paid tribute to Andy Lavelle, a Knowle youth coach and former Royal Marine, who died after a short illness.