Wednesday 27th November 2019 19.30
Mid Wales League Division Two (Welsh Step Four)
Knighton Town 0 Forden United 10 (TEN) ht: 0-3 att: 75
O’Donnell 2,4,59 Henderson-Smith 18,88 Anderson 50, Morgan 57, Jenkins 72, Webster 73,75
Knighton Town are one of a number of mid-wales teams who are playing at step three or lower but who have sizeable grounds that could and have graced Cymru Alliance or higher status. They all seem united in having one main old stand of character in the middle (no arena or atcost models) and floodlights. Among the others are Llanidloes Town, Rhayader Town, Berriew, Welshpool, Presteigne St Andrews, Montgomery, Llandrindod Wells. Knighton Town are having a hard time this season having lost every game of their step four Mid Wales Division Two League. Their record was 0 0 12 9 76 an average game score of roughly 6-1.
This is sad to see for a club of 132 years pedigree and who played second tier football between 1992-99. Conversely it was good to note that the usual signs of a club about to fold were not evident. Their Twitter feed was active and very helpful, the staff were upbeat and friendly, the snack bar was in operation and there was a healthy crowd of 75, all things considered, with all the home fans backing their young side and generally offering positive encouragement.
There was a remarkably good atmosphere for a club in their league predicament. They also did well to get the game on with recent heavy rain making for a boggy pitch.
Knighton, the town, is a small market town situated right on the border of England and Wales. Indeed, its Welsh name Tref-y-Clawdd means town on the dyke (as in Offa’s). A small part of the town is actually in Shropshire, including the train station. I didn’t see much of the town and it was dark and misty but it had a good feel, like a lot of the places in this area, such as Church Stretton and Montgomery. There was some great architecture and scenery and it had the feel of a sleepy but very pleasant place to live.
Watson’s Ale House, up the steep narrow High Street from the clock tower was a charming and welcoming real ale haven selling four local ales.
The Showground lies just off the main A4113 road coming into town, with the stand visible from the road.
Its proximity to England and having once been fully in England the team are known as the bordermen. They also go by the nickname The Robins.
The visitors tonight were nearby Forden United, lying in mid-table, having beaten Knighton 10-0 earlier in the season.
History repeated itself as I saw my first ever 0-10, completing my set of results from 0-0 up to and including 0-10; having also seen a 0-13 I’m just missing 0s 11 and 12. Forden were quickly two goals up thanks to some awful defending. 3-0 followed from the spot, but the goals dried up and Knighton made a bit of a game of it. A likely full time score was looking more like 0-5 at half time.
In the second half Forden picked Knighton off seven times to hit double figures. Knighton never gave up and weren’t just there to make up the numbers. Their effort was laudable and I hope they get a first point on the board shortly.
The Groundhog 