Kyle Knoyle takes fatherly advice to score blockbuster in Cambridge United’s win over Crawley Town in Sky Bet League Two
Kyle Knoyle heeded the advice of his father when scoring Cambridge United’s crucial second goal in their 3-1 victory over Crawley Town in Sky Bet League Two.
The 24-year-old right-back struck a blockbuster on the stroke of half time to give the U’s a 2-1 half-time lead against the Reds at the Abbey Stadium.
He ran onto a ball touched back to the edge of the area by Paul Mullin, and leathered it into the top corner, giving Crawley keeper Glenn Morris no chance.
“I’m delighted,” said Knoyle, on his first goal of the season. “My dad every week tries gets on at me to just hit it and try to score so he'll be happy with that.
“I’m delighted for myself but most importantly for the team to contribute for the three points, which is the aim.
“I’ve had a couple of opportunities to score this season and I’ve maybe gone for a different technique of trying to place it. This time I just smashed it, and it was accurate.
“I just hit it and I never thought it would go in honestly, but to end up in the top bins I’m happy.
“It was a tight game before that, but just to get it before half time gave us that little boost and the confidence to go into the second half to really attack them and get the three points.
“The third goal just takes the pressure off to see out the win.”
Wes Hoolahan’s effort sealed United’s win, with Joe Ironside having got the opener, and the result lifted them three points clear at the top of the table.
It also saw them record a haul of 14 points from a possible 18 for January.
“I think it’s been a big month for the team,” said Knoyle.
“There has been a lot thrown our way throughout the month and we’ve dealt with it well.
“I think from the first minute to the final whistle everyone gave everything they had and that just showed with the performance and the result.
“We’re taking it every game as it comes with the conditions recently and games getting called off. We’re reacting to every circumstance thrown at us and we’ve done it well as a team. We’ve just got to keep doing it week in, week out.”
While nobody can be faulted on that front, it particularly applies to Knoyle.
He has featured in all bar 17 minutes of United’s league games this season, having been substituted off in the 5-0 win at Morecambe, and there have been just two EFL Trophy matches in which he has not played some part, although he was an unused sub.
Knoyle added: “I’ve not missed a game.
“It’s definitely been enjoyable. I’m really enjoying it, and hopefully we will get the main goal at the end of the season which is promotion.”
Read more
Mark Bonner delighted as Cambridge United beat Crawley Town to complete January unbeaten
