FECKENHAM finish their Midland League Division Two campaign with a home game against Smithswood Firs on Saturday.
The Millers go into the match in tenth place and still harbouring ambitions of catching ninth placed Earlswood Town thanks to Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Knowle.
Feckenham were without numerous key players but stuck to their task well on a very hard and uneven surface.
Knowle were very direct in their approach and looked dangerous from set pieces, but time and time again Andy Liddle and Ryan Edwards defied them, whilst Millers custodian Josh Goddard was forced into a few routine saves.
The visitors grew into the game and looked a threat on the counter-attack as Jay Wright and Jack Brimmell both went close to breaking the deadlock.
Midway through the first half a Feckenham corner was well delivered into the box and Edwards’ header went just the wrong side of the post.
Knowle had chances of their own, but in truth were kept relatively at bay by a very organised and disciplined Feckenham rearguard.
The best chance of the half came through Brimmell as good link-up play with Wright saw the ball worked into the wide midfielder, who drifted past two markers with ease before forcing a superb save out of the Knowle goalkeeper down low at his near post.
The second half was an even affair and Feckenham threatened when Max Tibbins, who had a very good afternoon at the heart of the Millers midfield, released Ben Cox who cut inside before curling an effort the wrong side of the post.
Both Ryan Moore and Umit Eminoglu played big parts in Feckenham gaining momentum and it was good build-up play by the duo which led to the breakthrough.
Wright cut inside off the left flank and saw his deflected effort loop up into the air – leaving the Knowle goalkeeper in a whole host of trouble – and Brimmell was on hand to head home.
It could have been 2-0 soon afterwards as Wright was put through and was inches away from knocking the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper, who did well to thwart the danger.
Knowle continued to look a threat from dead balls and a succession of corners forced Goddard into good saves, whilst man of the match Liddle was able to head away the last of the corners.
On 78 minutes Eminoglu’s free kick from 24 yards out was well saved and Moore’s follow-up effort went high and wide.
The hosts continued to look for the elusive equaliser and they nearly found it in the dying embers of the game when a long punt upfield was misjudged by the Knowle forward, who just needed to glance the ball goalwards.
