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Match Report

Evo-Stik League South Premier Division Central

Saturday 5thJanuary 2019   3:00pm

Referee: Stuart Richardson   Assistants: Anthony Wingate and Scott Mason

Tamworth in all pale blue kicked off with Kettering in red and black defending the Tin Hat. Kettering attacked from the off and Dan Holman threaded is way through three defenders but his shot aimed at the top corner passed over the bar with the keeper beaten. The next minute Dan turned provider and played a ball on the floor for Hoenes. Rhys with a defender in close order managed to steer the ball goal-wards and either the defender or keeper managed to get enough on the ball to cause it to trickle by the wrong side of the post for a corner. Kettering kept up the pressure from the corner and the ball eventually ended up with Hoenes on the far post but his ball back into the middle found no-one home to finish the move off. Almost immediately after Holman found himself in space some 25 yards out and sent a daisy cutter goal-wards. Simpson diving full length managed to get a hand to it and was relieved to see the ball hit the base of the post and bounce clear.

Richens was combative as ever and was felled by a late boot from a Tamworth player which the referee ignored the ball was played across to Dion Kelly-Evans who was caught by a similarly timed boot with two Kettering players in pain on the floor the referee finally blew for an offence and gave one of the offenders a talking to but no caution.

It was all Kettering and Holman broke down the left wing stretching the Tamworth defence. He played the ball inside to Lindon Meikle who lifted the ball towards the right hand corner of the penalty box.  A Tamworth defender managed to head the ball clear but only into the path of Michael Richens who unleashed a thunderous shot from distance. Simpson went airborne and must have got something on the shot as the referee awarded a corner.  Marcus Kelly took a short corner to Hoenes who played the ball towards the far post a Tamworth head cleared the ball but straight to Meikle some five yards outside the box. He advanced about ten yards and lashed in a powerful shot aimed at the far post.  The keeper stood no chance.  1-0 Kettering 29 mins.

Just after the half hour mark Kettering had the chance to extend their lead when a move initiated by a throw out by Paul White to Gary Stohrer swept up-field with Kelly and Cunnington involved in getting the ball back to Gary who made a penetrating run into the box. He switched the ball back opposite to the direction of his run wrong-footing the defence.  Kelly met the ball but his right-footed effort was wide of the post. It was a measure of Kettering's first half dominance that there was only five minutes left of the half before Tamworth managed to get the ball into Kettering's penalty area when they won their first corner which came to nothing.

Half Time: Kettering Town 1  Tamworth 0

Tamworth made one change at half-time with Jack Concannon replacing Chris Lait. Dennis Greene's team talk proved to be effective and three minutes in his team had their best chance   of the game. A ball was played deep into the Kettering's box and headed across towards Tyrecc Waite who finding his back towards goal executed a perfect overhead kick which required an equally well executed save by Paul White diving to his left and extending his arm to push the ball away.

Tamworth's prospects looked bleaker after ten minutes when a kick out of hand by Simpson went straight to Kelly who played the ball forward for Hoenes to run clear and leave him 1v1 against the keeper. Rhys pushed the ball past the keeper and was prevented from running onto it by Simpson outstretched leg. The referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot and issued a yellow card to the keeper, the maximum allowable under the FA's jeopardy guidelines.  However a yellow card and a penalty seems a minor punishment for preventing a certain goal, considering that a penalty is not a given goal. Dan Holman took a perfect penalty sending the keeper to his left as he rolled the ball to his right. 2-0 Kettering 55 mins.

Tamworth were handed a lifeline three minutes later when following a hopeful high ball into the box Gary Stohrer made contact with Michael Taylor who took full advantage of the contact to fall to the floor and win a soft penalty for his team. Gregg Smith took the penalty but was denied by a good save by Paul White. Fortune Mapmosa was first to reach the rebound and slotted it home but he was helped by the fact that he had encroached at least 4 yards into the box when the kick was taken.2-1 Tamworth 58 mins.  

Tamworth’s spirits were raised and a break on the left by Waite needed White to be alert to the danger to keep out who didn’t hold back in berating the defensive laxity. With attack being the best form of defence Kettering moved forward. Holman on the half-way line spread the ball out wide to Stohrer who advanced with the ball. Gary played the ball in to Dan’s feet who flicked the ball forward for Kelly to run onto. Simpson was quick off his line and blocked the ball with his knees causing it to spin up into the air Holman still moving forward leapt and lifted the ball towards the goal with his head to be denied by Jordan Gough on the line but his clearance went straight to Meikle whose shot lacked control and ballooned over the bar. 

With fifteen minutes to go Mapmosa received a booking for his umpteenth foul of the game for a Tamworth side that had been physical throughout. Five minutes later Solkhon made his customary substitutes appearance replacing Cunnington. Before Brett could get involved, Richens cut out a misdirected ball forward by Mapmosa. Michael lifted down the left wing for Hoenes to chase. He easily outpaced Kettle and was bearing down on goal when Jemson cynically body checked him being nowhere near the ball. The referee adjudged him to be the last defender and showed him a red card a decision which the defender could have no complaints with.  Two minutes later Richens repeated the trick with Hoenes this time outpacing Smith and with the defenders backing out fired towards goal. Simpson was beaten but the ball hit the base of the post and bounced out. With three additional minutes to be played Tamworth threw players forward in an attempt to salvage a point. Taylor showed frustration and only succeeded in talking himself into the referee’s notebook for dissent. The game ended when Paul White rose well in his box to confidently claim a high ball and with the ball safe in his hands Mr Richardson sounded the final whistle.

Full Time: Kettering Town 2  Tamworth 1

Kettering Town yellow cards:  Kelly-Evans - Foul

AFC Tamworth yellow cards:  Mapmosa - foul. Taylor – Dissent

                                  Red card: Jemson – Last man professional foul

Attendance: 805

Elgoods Brewery – Sponsors Concept Domestic Floors Ltd - Kettering Town - Man-of-the-Match – Dan Holman