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Match Report

Aldershot Town   v  Kettering Town

The Emirates FA Challenge Cup 4th Qualifying Round

Saturday 20th October 2018   3:00pm

      Referee:  Savvas Yianni                                  Assistants   Craig Scriven and Andy Loe

Marcus Law named a virtually unchanged side from that which had earned a point at Tamwoth in mid-week.  The only change coming from Brett Solkhon replacing Luke Graham in the starting line up with Durrell Berry moving into defence and Solkhon in a more advanced position.  Most pleasing for Kettering fans and no doubt the player too was the naming of Aaron O'Connor amongst the substitutes.  Cal Templeton also appeared on a Kettering team sheet for the first time.  The playing surface looked immaculate and Peter Ebdon has most probably played on a poorer surface.  This is due to the fact that Chelsea's Under 23s play their home matches at the EBB stadium thus explaining the Chelsea billboards behind each goal, Under clear blue skies Aldershot wearing red shirts with blue sleeves and blue shorts kicked off against Kettering playing in all white. 

Kettering almost got off to a dream start in the second minute when a Lindon Meikle ball from the left hand side picked out Rhys Hoenes unmarked on the back post but he failed to test the keeper with his header by putting it past the post with the keeper nowhere.  Kettering had another chance four minutes later when Declan Towers found Lathaniel Rowe-Turner in space to be enable him to cross, however the ball was just too high for Hoenes to make contact with.  Aldershot's first forward foray came when a high ball was lofted into  the box from the right but Luke Howell's header lacked both power and accuracy and went behind harmlessly for a goalkick.  On ten minutes Aldershot almost opened the scoring. A deep cross from  Adam McDonnell was headed back across goal by Fenelon to Scott Rendall who' finding himself with his back towards goal about six yards out' attempted a spectacular overhead kick but Paul White produced an equally spectacular point blank save and kept the game scoreless. Aldershot were starting to apply a bit of pressure now with Kettering dropping deep and challenging the host's to break them down.  Durrell Berry was leading by example and cleared any danger from Aldershot's first corner with a firm header. Just after the quarter hour Aldershot got the breakthrough. Shamir Fenelon got past LRT on the right and cut the ball back to Luke Howell whose shot was blocked by a defender.  The rebound went straight to McDonnell who fired the ball back at goal. White got down to stop the shot but couldn't hold onto it and the rebound fell nicely to Rendell who reacted quickest and tapped the ball home.  1-0 Aldershot 16 mins.  Kettering responded well though and forced a corner when Gabriel Osho put the ball behind under pressure.  The resulting corner by Ben Milnes was too close to the keeper who came out well to collect easily.  Good work between Milnes and Hoenes let Milnes cross into the box but Michael Richens failed to get over the ball and his header looped over the bar with Solkhon who seemed to be better placed behind him left frustrated.  Lindon Meikle was seeing plenty of the ball but the Aldershot players were closing down well and not giving the Kettering players much space or time when in possession, on this occasion Meikle managed to evade Marvin McCoy but his shot was well wide.  Both sides were creating chances though, Matt McClure picked out Rendell unmarked on the back post but he put his header into the side netting with Paul White in close attendance.  Fenelon managed to shake off Durrell Berry and break forward but outpacing any supporting players left having a shot at goal as his only option which White saved easily.

Half Time: Aldershot Town 1 Kettering Town 0

The first action of note in the second half was a shot from the edge of the penalty area by Fenelon which briought another good save from White.  Kettering made the first change on 55 minutes with Borg replacing Solkhon. A minute later Kettering had their best chance of the game when George Fowler was caught losing concentration just outside Aldershot's penalty area and had the ball stolen off him by Ben Milnes who advanced one on one verses the goalkeeper.  Will Mannion did very well and prevented the equaliser.  The ball span away where it was collected by Hoenes but he was fouled by Fowler before he could do any thing constructive for which Fowler received the first caution of the game.  The resulting free kick came to nothing followed by a double substitution by Aldershot.  Kettering were pushing forward although this meant that they were leaving themselves open to the counter attack which Aldershot did on 61 minutes when Ben Miles found himself as the only covering player but he carried out his defensive task well and delayed the attack long enough for Berry to get back and snuff it out.  It was Milnes last contribution as three miutes later he was replaced by Aaron O'Connor who was welcomed onto the pitch with warm applause from the travelling supporters.  Kettering were asking plenty of questions at this stage an LRT made a powerful run into the box to earn an unproductive corner.  On 70 minutes a big question was asked of the referee.  Kettering made a fast break forward and Rhys Hoenes broke through to find himself with only the keeper to beat.  He pushed it past him and went to follow but was prevented from doing so when Mannion collided heavily with him and knocked him down.  Mr Yianni was not impressed and merely signalled a goalkick. The kick was a massive one though, obviously from the andrenalin flowing through the keeper after avoiding conceeding a penalty and the bounce evaded everyone until McDonnell managed to latch onto it just outside Kettering's penalty area but his shot was gathered in by White at the second attempt.  Three minutes later the referee was centre stage again with a big decision to make when Andrea Borg was scythed down on the half way line by a high, late and reckless tackle by Kinsella which led to a bit of handbags and only a yellow card.  O'Connor brought out another good save from Mannion when Fowler made another mistake to let Aaron in and get a shot off which the keeper got the faintest of touches to, to divert it from it's course with no other Kettering player close enough to tap it home. Kettering were definitely on top now and the 2 division difference between the teams was indiscernible but Kettering had failed to convert their chances and Aldershot managed to seal their victory eight minutes from time when from out of nowhere McDonnell found himself in space about 25 yards out and struck an unstoppable swerving shot which a full length flying White could do nothing about. 2-0 Aldershot 82 mins.  Kettering carried on battling to the end with Borg taking a tumble in the box but was ignored by the ref.  Ben Toseland replaced LRT just before the end and made a few probing runs forward but the game was up and Kettering's FA cup exploit's for this season was over.

Full Time: Aldershot Town 2 Kettering Town 0

A gallant effort by Kettering playing away against a side 2 levels above them in the football pyramid.  At no stage were they out classed or out fought.  On another day some of the big decisions could have gone a different way.  There would have been some sighs of relief around the EBB stadium when their second goal went in as a dangerous opponent was finaly dealt with.  Kettering played deep in the first half and held something in reserve for the second half where the full-time team which had not played an important mid-week league match could have made their superior fitness count.  Whereas  Kettering looked the better team in the second half. One crumb of comfort that Kettering can take away from this was the welcome return of Aaron O'Connor after his long lay-off through injury appearing to be sharp and hungry.  Watch out our league rivals.

Yellow:  Aldershot   Fowler foul  Kinsella foul

             Kettering;  None

Man of the Match: The Whole Team

Attendance: 1634  ( 233 Poppies fans)