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Match Report

Kettering Town  v  Leiston FC

Evo-Stik League South Premier Division Central

Saturday 15th September 2018   3:00pm

      Referee: Scott Tallis                             Assistants Ian Croston and William Ottaway

Kettering's paper thin squad was stretched to the limit.  With Dion Kelly-Evans and Lindon Miekle still serving suspensions long term absentees James Brighton and Aaron O'Connor were joined on the injury list by Andrea Borg.  DeclanTowers was named on the susbstitutes bench but looked unlikely to play as he did not participate in the pre-match warm up. The weather was overcast and pleasantly warm.  Leiston kicked off in blue attacking the Tin Hat end with Kettering in red.  Kettering started on the front foot and Ben Milnes tested Marcus Garnham in the Leiston goal with a couple of long range efforts in the first 10 minutes which were dealt with easily enough.  On the quarter hour Leiston won a corner which was cleared behind by  Lathaniel Rowe-Turner for another corner.  This was delivered deep to the far post where Dominic Docherty headed the ball into the ground catching Paul White out.  He managed to paw the ball away but the referee checked with the linesman who adjudged that the ball had crossed the line. 0-1 Leiston 14 mins.    Kettering tried to strike back straight away. BenToseland advanced into midfield from his left back position and fed the ball outside to Marcus Kelly who delivered a cross aimed towards Brett Solkhon in the penalty area.  It was just a bit too high though and the ball spun off his head and behind for a goal kick.  Leiston were willing to attack where possible and a long ball across the goal area evaded White and found a Leiston forward who headed it goal bound towards the opposite post.  White had cause to thank Gary Stohrer who cleared the ball off the line.   On 24 minutes Mr Tallis first displeased the home supporters.  Michael Richens and Chris Henderson were contesting the ball just outside the Leiston penalty area. Richens won the ball and evaded the next defender to give himself a clear sight of goal only for the referee to sound his whistle and call the play back for a free kick.  Richens was furious but the chance was gone as  Henderson went into the book.  The referee was centre stage on 28 minutes.  Rhys Hoenes was in possesion and carried the ball into the box when contact was made with Robert Eagle resulting in Hoenes ending up on the floor.  Mr Tallis blew his whistle and pointed towards the spot.  The Leiston players did not agree with the decision and as Hoenes got to his feet he was confronted by Patrick Brothers who pushed Hoenes in the chest with both hands causing him to return to the floor.  Pandemonium ensued with the home crowd calling for a dismissal. The referee obviously saw it but only as a yellow card offence.  Some may argue that it was only a light push and Hoenes made a meal of it but it is the intent of the act that should be punished not the result, and Brothers raised his arms to Hoenes.  When order had been restored Solkhon stepped up to the mark, sent the keeper the wrong way and equalised. 1-1 Kettering Town 31 minutes. On the stroke of half time Kettering were awarded another free kick on the edge of the area when Toesland was floored.  Hoenes' curling shot was beaten away well by Garnham.    

Half Time: Kettering Town 1 Leiston 1  

The second half began with a indecisve period of play as Leiston give the imression that they would be happy to take a point from the game and set out a very organised defensive formation with the only effort of note that looks like breaking the draw being a clever ball through from Solkhon but Jahvan Davidson-Miller fails to connect with and the chance goes begging.  Shortly after Solkhon goes down wth an injury and after some treatment tries to continue.  His final contribution was to latch onto a high ball into the box from Stohrer that he hits first time on the volley but off target but causing himself some pain with the effort.  Leiston like the first half are looking for opening to counter attack and a high ball into Ketterngs box from the left hand side has to be flicked away by a fully extened Paul White arm whilst under intense pressure from Jake Reed.  Shortly after that Solkhon succumbs to his injury and is replaced by Mason Rhiney.  Leiston make their first sustitution at the same time taking off the goalscorer.  The half meanders to its concluson with Kettering spending plenty of time in possesion but not being able to penetrate a solid defence.  When Kettering do get into a postion where an attempt at goal could be made the chance is foiled by poor control or too close to the keeper who was not really tested as any attempt that was on target was at a convinient height for him to deal with.  Marcus Law tried to change it around up front replacing JDM with Matty Foy but the bench held little oppourtunity of changing the outcome.  The departure of Solkhon appeared to take the bite out of KTFC's attack.  Rhiney picked up his first yellow card when he fell over backwards into a Leiston player who'd just dispossesed him and the game appeared to be heading for a draw.    With Kettering pressing forward looking to preserve their 100% start to the season Leiston's patience paid off and a counter attack launched from their keeper found Reed in possesion in the Kettering penalty area With the defender desperate not to give away a penalty so late in the game Reed managed to find space and lift the ball back across the goalmouth where the player many thought should have not been on the pitch managed to steer the ball past 3 players and into the net.  1-2 Leiston 86 mins  Richens had a chance to win apoint back in stoppage time when he was picked out by Stohrer but he didn't get over the ball an it passed harmlessly over the bar.

Full Time Kettering Town 1  Leiston 2

The effect of Kettering's depleted squad finally has it's consequenses.  The continued absense of a proven goal scorer tells in the end.  Kettering's makeshift team due to injuries and suspensions fail to unlock a determined and organised defence and pay the price falling to a sucker punch at the end scored by a player whose continued involvement in the game was questionable.

Bookings

Kettering -  Rhiney, foul.     Leiston  -  Henderson, foul - Brothers, unsporting behaviour

Attendance: 749

Elgoods Brewery Man of the Match: chosen by sponsors Essity - Gary Stohrer

Klondike winner - No 28715 - Simon Spooner who wins £200.