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Match Report

Today’s Sponsors: Match: The Flecknors Programme: PATGOD Ball: AigoFIND IN A NUTSHELL: Both goals in this turgid game were scored within a couple of minutes. Drew Roberts gave the visitors an early second half lead in the 47th minute and Will Grocott equalized for Kettering in the next minute. In reality neither team did enough to win the game with defences largely dominating. THE KETTERING SQUAD: Chris Carruthers was serving a one match ban. A number of players reported in carrying injuries, but all started the game with Rene Howe returning, and new loanee David Popa was on the bench, Dom Langdon dropped out of the starting line up. HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED: St Neots started well. A first minute free kick saw Adam Tann stab the ball straight at Kettering keeper, Craig Hill. Then a second minute free kick saw Dan Schiavi ‘s shot again saved by Hill. A third free kick then saw a corner conceded and cleared well. Ex Kettering striker Drew Roberts miscued wide as the Saints were well on top. The first time the Poppies got near to goal was after 10 minutes and a corner was won and subsequently cleared. Spencer Weir-Daley was pulled up for an offside before the first really good chance fell to St Neots after 16 minutes. Remy Gordon was put clear on the left and rather than shoot he tried a low cross which Brett Solkhon slid in to clear. Solkhon then got on the end of an attacking free kick by Hill, but glanced the header wide. It was his last action as he was not fit, after all, and was replaced by Dom Langdon. Kettering forced a corner and from the clearance, Will Grocott’s on target shot was blocked. On 23 minutes Rene Howe’s cushioned header set up Liam Canavan for a shot which was wild. On the half hour, Wilson Carvalho robbed Brett Longden on the right, and, running in on goal, was felled. The Referee gave no penalty, albeit that TV replays afterwards seemed to indicate that contact was made from behind. Both teams huffed and puffed, but could make little impact in the goalmouth. Charlie Coulson fired weakly over the bar. Perry Cotton set up Howe, whose shot was deflected wide. Finally in the half Grocott’s great cross from the left went begging. Liam Canavan’s early second half shot drifted wide, before St Neots took the lead. The ball was threaded through, and the writer called offside immediately by about a yard. It was too quick for the Assistant, and Drew Roberts doesn’t miss chances like that and put his team in front. The Kettering response was immediate. Cotton crossed from the right, the ball fell to Grocott and, with good technique, he fired past Alex Archer and in at the left upright. Canavan headed wide for Kettering, before Hill made a poor clearance at the other end and Coulson fired wide from 40 yards. For Kettering, James Brighton’s 66th minute free kick spelt danger as the ball threaded its was through everyone and away for a goal kick. The next minute saw Carvalho fire well wide and substitute David Popa, set up Grocott but the shot was blocked. The next chance fell to Drew Roberts. It was only a snapshot across goal and Hill just managed to paw the ball away as it reared up off the ground. Kettering then had a chance as Popa raced onto a pass. His lob over Archer saw the keeper get a palm on it and, as Popa ran onto the ball, a defender made a saving clearance. On 84 minutes Saints substitute, Jordan Brown, had a great chance as he met a clearance 15 yards out- but he stabbed the ball just over the bar. Kettering tried some late pressure to win the game with Obeng coming on and playing four up top. Brighton’s free kick was headed on by Popa but taken by Archer. A late corner was taken short and wasted, and, finally Archer saved two on target shots from Carvalho and a final Carvalho shot was blocked. The Poppies next entertain Stratford at Latimer Park on Tuesday next at 7.45pm. Full Time: Kettering Town 1 - 1 St Neots Town Attendance: 561 Match Sponsors, The Flecknors, Poppies man of the match: Gary Mulligan Klondike : £145 : Number 5395 ; winner: Mark Flecknor Yellow cards: Kettering: None St Neots: None Substitutions: Kettering: Langdon for Solkhon,18; Popa for Weir-Daley,68;Obeng for Pepe-Ngoma 82. St Neots: Brown for Schiavi 72. Starting Line-ups: Kettering: Craig Hill;Perry Cotton;James Brighton;Brett Solkhon (Captain);Gary Mulligan;Herve Pepe-N’Goma;Wilson Carvalho;Liam Canavan;Rene Howe;Spencer Weir-Daley;Will Grocott. Subs:Richie Danquah;Dominic Langdon;Silvano Obeng;David Popa;Ben Stephens. St Neots:Alex Archer;Jamie Anton;Brett Longden;Adam Tann (Captain);Danny Burns;Dan Schiavi;Charlie Coulson;Drew Roberts;Remy Gordon. Subs: Jordan Brown;Dan Hobbs;Ben Burton;Peter Clark;Harley Mazeo-Kelly