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Match Report

Tonight’s low key affair at Latimer Park saw the first round of the Hillier Senior Cup fought out between a changed Kettering Town team line up and Desborough Town in front of a crowd of just 86. The Poppies go on to the second round after a 2-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Matty Stevens (39 minutes) and Samson Maagbe (62 minutes). Ar Tarn’s consolation came from ex Poppy, Andy Hall, in the76th minute. Kettering’s Rhys Hoenes missed a penalty in the 37th minute. The Teams lined up: Kettering Town: 1 Callum Patching 2 Ben Baker 3 Ben Toseland 4 Munashe Sundire 5 Eric Yeboah 6 Michael Richens (Captain) 7 Samson Maagbe (15 Geanu Stanciu,76) 8 Gary Stohrer 9 Matthew Stevens 10 Jai Minus ( 12 Michael Morrow,60) 11 Rhys Hoenes Unused Substitutes: 14 Ryan Kenyon 16 Denzel Kuzukwawo 18 Patryk Cichusz Desborough Town: 1 Kris Bartle 2 Aiden Bradshaw 3 Lewis Burgess 4 Liam Boath (14 Liam Mcinally,75) 5 Michael Boyle-Chong 6 Aaron Davis 7 John Dean (15 Michael Ogilvie,79) 8 Dan White 9 Jason Turner 10 Will Arnold (12 Louis Martin,87) 11 Andy Hall Unused substitute: 16 Sam Walpole The first half was dominated by the home side which included just three first team regular starters and four regular first team substitutes, with the rest of tonight’s squad from the under 21 or international squad. Matty Stevens saw a first minute effort stopped on the line by visiting keeper, Kris Bartle. Rhys Hoenes fired just wide and Samson Maagbe headed wide from a corner. Michael Richens’ 13th minute shot was saved and Gary Stohrer’s shot 5 minutes later was deflected wide of the post. Desborough’s former Kettering right back, Aiden Bradshaw, tested Callum Patching with a 21st minute shot, as Deborough finally made it into the Kettering penalty area. The Poppies were unfortunate in the 35th minute as Ben Toseland’s shot appeared to be about a yard over the line- but no goal was awarded. Within four minutes Kettering did score with Matty Stevens making a surging run to fire past Bartle. In between, Rhys Hoenes won a penalty when he was brought down by keeper, Kris Bartle Standing a goal down at half time, Desborough came out in the second half togive it a go and pushed more men forward urging John Dean to get at makeshift right back, Ben Baker. It was still Kettering though at this stage who had the better goal efforts as Jai Minus headed wide. Then they scored a second as Hoenes broke away on the left and crossed low for Maagbe to finish well high to the keeper’s right from 15 yards. Desborough tried hard in a game which was very watchable and Patching had to make another save on 75 minutes from Dean. A minute later, ex Poppy Andy Hall got some space on the left and scored with a low right foot shot. Try as they may, Ar Tarn could not force another clear cut chance even with five late corners on the stroke of time. We apologise to those attending for no tannoy service tonight. There was one yellow card for Jason Turner on 90 minutes. Congratulations to Jim Cardy, who won £46 on the Klondike draw with ticket number 17923. The Poppies Man of the Match was Ben Toseland