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Match Report

IN A NUTSHELL: It was a comfortable win against a determined Romulus team today at Sutton Coldfield Town F C. An early Rhys Hoenes penalty settled the nerves, and Romulus gave as good as they got for the rest of the half. Second half goals from Aaron O’Connor and Hoenes again saw Kettering largely dominate proceedings. THE KETTERING SQUAD: The team was unchanged. With Matty Stevens unable to play in F A Competitions under the loan terms from Peterborough, only six substitutes were named including Ben Toseland and keeper, Callum Snow. Team Line-ups: ROMULUS: 1 Liam Sharpe 2 Todd Evans 3 Mark Branch (Captain) 4 Kieran Harrison (15 Kyle Burke,60) 5 Cameron Lee 6 Barry Fitzharris 7 Jordan Francis 8 Scott Goodby (12 Cameron Healey,67) 9 Romario Martin (16 Nathan Waite,75) 10 Malachi Farqhuarson 11 Rhys Mason Unused Substitutes: 14 Jourdain Masidi 17 Billy Spink 18 Graham Deakin Yellow Cards: Harrison,48; Evans,50;Francis,88 KETTERING TOWN: 1 Paul White 2 Durrell Berry 3 James Brighton 4 Brett Solkhon (Captain) 5 Gary Mulligan 6 Michael Richens 7 Rhys Hoenes 8 Aaron O’Connor 9 Rene Howe (14 Liam Bateman,76) 10 Ben Milnes (15 Gary Stohrer,71) 11 Lindon Meikle (12 Ben Baker,76) Unused Substitutes: 17 Callum Snow 19 Munashe Sundire 20 Ben Toseland Yellow Card: O’Connor,23. HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED: The Poppies started with promise on the 3G surface forcing a couple of corners and seeing Rene Howe head against the bar- only to be pulled up for an offside. They took the lead on 6 minutes. Rhys Hoenes got the better of his marker as Kieran Harrison brought him down from behind. Hoenes got up to score the penalty. Within a minute of the restart, Lindon Meikle could not just get that telling touch as he beat the home keeper,Liam Sharpe, to the ball and he stretched to poke the ball wide. The Roms gradually began to get into the game, playing some good football and going strongly into each tackle. Free kicks and corners in their favour followed and from one corner, Paul White in the Kettering goal, dropped the ball under pressure and the loose ball was stabbed wide. White saved a Romario Martin shot and similarly at the other end, Sharpe saved from Hoenes. Ben Milnes’ 25th minute corner from the left found Michael Richens at the far post and the header narrowly missed the target. A second Milnes corner two minutes later whizzed across goal with no one getting a touch. Romulus were launching long throws into the box and, on the half hour, Malachi Farqhuarson headed goalwards and White held high up. Kettering put a flowing move together on 39 minutes and Sharpe made the save from Aaron O’Connor. Kettering keeper Paul White was then down smartly to his right to push away a shot from Barry Fitzharris as the midfielder found space for a shot. Kettering finished the half well with Milnes seeing his shot blocked and Howe hitting the bar with a measured drive. Half Time: ROMULUS 0 - 1 KETTERING TOWN Kettering doubled their lead within four minutes of the half. Lindon Meikle curled a lovely ball around the defence for Aaron O’Connor to do what he does best to beat Sharpe. It could have been worse for Romulus a few minutes later as Hoenes was clear on the right. His cross hit O’Connor and flew over the bar. With Kettering now largely dominant the third goal came on 62 minutes. This time Howe’s pass from the outside of his right foot round the right back was immaculate and allowed Hoenes the easiest of chances to beat Sharpe. Howe then saw a shot blocked. A rare foray into the Kettering penalty area saw the home side gain a corner and from the kick Cameron Lee headed wide from a decent chance. With substitutions being made on both sides the game was tending to peter out with 20 minutes to go- but Kettering created the better chances. Meikle’s cross from the left saw Sharpe spill and Howe fired over from the loose ball. Then Meikle himself fired just wide and Brett Solkhon’s header from a free kick was straight at Sharpe. For Romulus, Jordan Francis fired wide. Two difficult looking away trips to Weymouth and St Ives follow next Saturday and a week on Tuesday with the next round of the Cup falling on 16th September (Draw revealed tomorrow at 1pm). Full Time: ROMULUS 0 - 3 KETTERING TOWN Attendance: 249 (Poppies fans estimated at 150) Poppies Man of the Match: Durrell Berry