Full Time:

Match Report

Match Sponsors : The Broughton Brigade Mascot: Jude Smith

IN A NUTSHELL: The Poppies gained their first win this season against a top 5 club with a deserved 3 -0 win at home to promotion chasing Slough Town. All the goals came in the second half through James Brighton (52 minutes), Liam Canavan (60) and Rene Howe in added time. The Rebels were restricted to only one shot on target all game and Kettering dominated the second half.

THE KETTERING SQUAD: Rene Howe came straight back into the team and James Haran started in midfield. James Hall and Jorrin John dropped to the bench.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED: A glorious day at Latimer Park greeted the two teams in front of a good crowd. Slough’s recent signing Liam Enver-Marum looked like he could be an influence and, in just the 4th minute, he forced his way through. Only dogged defending by Dom Langdon prevented the striker getting his shot in. Kettering’s first effort, a left foot drive from Liam Canavan was saved by Shaun Rowley. Slough’s 12th minute free kick in a dangerous position was lifted over the bar by James Dobson. Canavan then had a second shot after good work from Aaron O’Connor and James Brighton, but this time the shot was blocked by a defender. Slough were hurling long throws into the box and, on 18 minutes, as the ball was cleared from the six yard box, Lee Togwell fired wide from 20 yards. Shortly after, indecision by Langdon and Gary Mulligan saw Enver-Marum pounce on the loose ball but he fired just wide. The Poppies began to get a few things going and Canavan’s left foot shot was again blocked and O’Connor saw a shot saved as he was well tackled as he tried to get through. Togwell repeated his wide shooting on 27 minutes as he gathered the clearance from a long throw. This time it was a complete mishit which drifted well wide. The Poppies had a great chance from James Brighton’s 32nd minute corner as it fell to an unmarked Gary Mulligan- but he volleyed wide. The Poppies dealt well with successive Slough corners in the 33rd and 34th minutes, but their next corner saw Guy Hollis in oceans of space- but his header was poor and wide. The Poppies best move of the half saw Rene Howe’s shot saved by Rowley as Slough finished the half with a great chance. Enver-Marum’s hand definitely deflected the ball in front of Simon Dunn and his low shot was saved by Paul White’s legs. The Referee gave a corner- despite appeals from the home team and the ball was cleared.

Half Time: Kettering Town 0 - 0 Slough Town

The Poppies started the second period brightly and a corner on the left found Langdon, who could just not get any purchase on the shot with Rowley having an easy take. Kettering found the long throws now, and scored from one in the 52nd minute. Liam Bateman’s throw was headed on by Howe and Brighton glanced his header inside the left upright. Brighton’s 57th minute corner from the left was met by Langdon’s header and Rowley saved. The Poppies then doubled their lead on the hour. Brighton’s corner from the right caused panic in the visitors’ defence and Canavan hooked the ball in just under the bar. A couple of minutes later, Howe headed in from a free kick, but the Referee disallowed the goal for an infringement. Kettering really had a firm grip on the game and Slough could make little impression with Paul White under employed. Substitutions were made by the Slough management team to try to find a solution. The Poppies almost scored again as Howe’s header from Brighton’s corner smashed against the bar. Brighton then showed good skill but his ambitious shot drifted wide. Kettering were happy to see the game out with the defence snuffing out any Slough attacks. Lewis Hornby replaced Canavan on 90 minutes and his first touch- a shot- saw Rowley just push wide at full strtech. Rene Howe scored a third in added time- a reward for his man of the match performance- as his delightful low left foot shot curled past Rowley and in at the left upright.

Next up it’s the Hillier Cup Final at Sixfields on Tuesday night (7.45pm) followed by a league game at Stratford next Saturday (3pm).

Full Time: Kettering Town 3 - 0 Slough Town

Attendance: 521

Klondike winner: Graham James wins £160 on winning ticket number 15692 and thank you Graham for your generous donation to the club.

Poppies Elgoods Man of the Match chosen by the Broughton Brigade: Rene Howe

Team line-ups:

Kettering Town: 1 Paul White 2 Liam Bateman 3 Jack Kelly 4 James Haran (12 Ben Baker,81) 5 Dominic Langdon 6 Gary Mulligan (Captain) 7 Nathan Hicks 8 Aaron O’Connor (14 James Hall,86) 9 Rene Howe 10 Liam Canavan (15 Lewis Hornby,90) 11 James Brighton

Subs Unused: 16 Jorrin John 18 Jack O’Connor

Yellow cards: Howe,57;White,77

Slough Town : 1 Shaun Rowley 2 Sean Fraser (Captain) 3 Paul Stonehouse 4 Guy Hollis 5 Nathan Smart 6 Lee Togwell 7 James Dobson (15 Lewis Putman,73) 8 Simon Dunn 9 Liam Enver-Marum (16 Gavin James,61) 10 Chris Flood (17 Callum Bunting,73) 11 Nathan Webb

Subs unused: 12 Josh Jackman 14 Mark Nisbet

Yellow Card: Enver-Marum, 37