Full Time:

Match Report

A pulsating game at Latimer Park saw the Poppies take the lead on 14 minutes, go 2-1 and 3-2 down by halftime, then 4-3 ahead (Dan Holman's second goal - above) with 30 seconds of added time to go in the second half, to be denied by an equaliser on 95 minutes, in a dramatic 4-4 draw. 

Evo-Stik League South Premier Division Central

Tuesday 27th November 2018   7:45pm

Referee: Jonathan Burridge     Assistants: Richard May and Joseph Karram

After missing the match against Rushall Olympic both Dion Kelly-Evans and Durrell Berry returned to the starting XI Ben Milnes joined them with Lindon Meikle, Luke Graham and Rhys Hoenes reverting to the bench.  With Andrea Borg being recalled by Peterborough, Ben Toseland's fall from contention for a starting spot was evidenced by the preference shown to the untried youngster Bradley Kauzeni ahead of him for the final spot on the bench.        

After a wet afternoon and early evening, which no doubt effected the attendance, by kick-off time the rain had stopped and the mild evening made the conditions ideal for football. Kettering in red and black, for a successive Tuesday entertained a West Midlands team wearing yellow shirts and blue shorts.  Shortly after kicking-off Kettering were awarded an early free kick which was delivered into the penalty area and put behind by Jordan Mills The corner on the right hand side was played short by Marcus Kelly to Dion Kelly-Evans who returned the ball to Kelly who put his shot over the bar.  As the goal kick was played long down-field there was an off the ball incident involving Michael Richens in which the Kettering claimed to have been stamped on.  The referee halted the game as it was a head injury but after conferring with his assistant, who like himself had not seen the incident, could take no action and Richens had to the leave the field for causing the stoppage and having had on-field treatment from the physio. Kettering had an early warning of the night to come after eleven minutes when Gary Stohrer was beaten at the right back position with the resulting cross picking out an unmarked Redditch forward with a free header in front of goal.  The forward put the ball over but he had already been flagged for being in an offside position. Three minutes later Kettering took the lead. DKE made an incisive run forward into the box and got enough distance from Mills to put a lofted cross over towards the far post where Ben Milnes nodded the ball back into the middle for Aaron O’Connor to nod in from about a yard. 1-0 Kettering 14 mins.  Within five minutes it was all square. A Redditch ball in from the right found Dave Reynolds unmarked five yards out who simply had to pick his spot to put it past the helpless Paul White. 1-1 Redditch 19 mins.  Almost immediately Kettering thought they had restored their lead. Attacking straight from the kick-off they pressed forward down the right hand side.  The ball was played inside to Milnes who unleashed a powerful shot which all Reece Francis could do was parry away but only to the on rushing AO’C who controlled the ball and from an acute angle cut it across the keeper to go in at the far post. He was too quick off the mark though and was adjudged to have been offside and the goal disallowed. Kettering suffered further disappointment a minute later when from a Redditch corner Batchalor put away a free header. 1-2 Redditch 22 mins.   Kettering were still creating chances though and a clever ball through the defence on the floor left Milnes 1 on 1 with the keeper but the ball was slightly ahead of him and the swiftly advancing Francis managed to do enough to divert the ball away from goal. It ran kindly for the visitors and allowed them to clear it up field. The ball almost immediately came straight back and Kelly fired a fierce shot into the crowded penalty area.  The shot which was heading wide struck AO’C in the chest and deflected off for a goal kick on the opposite side to where the ball was originally bound.  On the half hour Kettering were level. A ball was played from the left into AO’C in the middle of the penalty area where it bounced off him to be cleared by a Redditch centre back flat on his back on the floor. The ball went straight to Stohrer who made a bee-line for the by-line while the defence were caught ball watching. He crossed to the far post where the advancing DKE showed great control in hitting the ball first time accurately into the goal giving the keeper no chance. 2-2 Kettering 30 mins.  Redditch had the next chance with a break down the right wing. The ball was played quickly inside to a forward in space who hit it first time but was leaning back when he hit it so unsurprisingly it sailed well over the bar much to the disgust of the Redditch player who knew he should have done better.  Redditch had an even better chance to retake the lead on their next attack.  The ball was played into the box to Batchalor who had his back to the goal with Lathaniel Rowe-Turner in close proximity. Whether LRT raised his hands to fend off Batchalor backing into him or not but as soon as the forward felt contact he fell to the floor and the referee did not hesitate in awarding a penalty kick. Batchalor took the kick and hit it hard to White's left who, flinging himself full length managed to get both hands to it and push it away. All be it that the kick was at just the right height for the keeper it was still an excellent save. On 35 minutes Kettering were awarded a free-kick just on the edge area but Milnes put his effort over the bar. Reynolds had the next chance when a ball played forward was mis-controlled by Declan Towers whose poor touch allowed the ball to  run to the Redditch number 9 who then strolled through the middle of Kettering's defence with two missed tackles.  Having done all the hard work in his approach the opportunity was lost when his effort was deflected wide for a corner. This caused a flutter in home supporters when DKE sliced the ball into the side netting. In the final five minutes of the half Kettering won two corners in quick succession when first Dan Holman broke free but Andrew Parsons managed to put it  behind and a similar break by DKE was lashed behind by Jamie Ashmore. In the time added on at the end of the first half Redditch managed to take the lead for a second time.  Shaquille Whittingham broke away and played a perfect ball dissecting the Kettering defence to pick out Robbie Bunn presenting him a easy sidefoot into a gaping goal. 2-3 Redditch 45+1 mins.  

Half Time: Kettering Town 2  Redditch United 3

Kettering kicked off the second half with no doubt the managerial team's words ringing in their ears after the worst defensive performance of the season.  With better finishing Redditch could have had six.  AO'C had the first shot of the second half and his fierce attempt needed Francis to get down smartly to prevent the ball sneaking in at the base of the post. Stohrer was constantly taking up a wide position on the left wing and he was picked out and charged forwards towards the Redditch goal and somehow managed to get past Ashmore who responded by stopping him by fouling him to get the first caution of the game. On the hour mark Marcus Law made his first substitutions with Hoenes and Meikle coming on for Milnes and LRT. Four minutes later it seemed the move had paid off when Rhys chasing a loose ball in the box was taken out by a two footed challenge by Francis winning a penalty for Kettering and a booking for himself for a tackle anywhere else on the pitch would've been a red. Hoenes took the penalty himself but his kick lacked both power or precision and Francis will not have a easier kick to save all season. Redditch then made their first substitution with Mitchell Piggon coming on after a seven week lay-off through injury to replace Reynolds. Redditch were doing their best to slow the game now but on their occasional attacks Batchalor was giving the usually unflappable Durrell Berry a busy evening. With fifteen minutes to go Kettering were awarded a free kick on the right hand side after another foul on AO'C. Kelly floated the ball in to the box where Holman found himself in space between two defenders and nodded the ball on it's way into the net. 3-3 Kettering 75 mins.  Almost straight after AO'C nearly put Kettering back in front but a good save from Francis denied him. Kettering were coming forward in waves now. A probe down the right wing by DKE funnelled the ball onto Kelly who whipped the ball into the box which was hacked clear by the defence but only as far as Stohrer who lifted an up and under into the box where Holman took one touch then lifted an exquisite lob over the retreating keeper to score his second of the night.  4-3 Kettering 81 mins.  Redditch responded immediately by replacing  Milan Butterfield with Leam Howards and started showing a new urgency to their game. Hoenes added to his miserable night by picking up a booking for pulling an opponent back deep inside Redditch's half.  Marcus Law tried to slow the game down by bringing Brett Solkhon on for AO'C with five minutes to go but such was the pace of the game that he had barely enough time on the pitch to pick up the tempo. With the minimum of five extra minutes announced, ironically most of it generated by the stalling tactics of Redditch, Kettering merely had to frustrate their opponents and with the quality in the side and their passing ability should have been able to see the game out. DKE received the ball deep inside his own half and advanced down the pitch with plenty of space due to Redditch's commitment to attack. He played the ball inside to the experienced Meikle who instead of holding onto the ball and when closed down playing the ball back to the open DKE or even running the ball into the corner to run down the clock chose to have an ambitious shot at goal.  The ball went over the bar but gave away vital possession.  The hurried goal-kick transferred the play from one penalty area to the other in seconds Batchalor ran at Berry as he had most of the second half and the defender had to settle for conceding the corner. With six extra minutes showing on the clock Bunn walked over to take it as if he had all the time in the world knowing that the kick would be his team's last chance to take something from the game. His kick arced across the area too far out for White to consider coming to collect over the head of the leaping Towers and fell to Harry Franklin to head downwards and bounced up into the goal.  4-4 Redditch 90+6 min. With Paul White unable to produce another points saving, save at the end it was the cue for massive celebrations from the visitors.  Kettering had time enough for one more punt into Redditch's penalty area but no avail.

Full Time: Kettering Town 4 Redditch United 4.

Poor defending by Kettering in the first half was salvaged by two goals from Dan Holman in the second half, however Redditch played the second period in a different manner, but when they needed to attack pulled a goal back at the death.  Just when Kettering thought the advantage of a series of home games would help them pull away from the pack they are brought back down to earth with a bump with a no doubt angry managerial team pointing out their short comings. After striving so hard to retake the lead simple game management cost the side two points. 

Kettering Town:  yellow cards:  Hoenes. Foul

Redditch United: yellow cards:  Ashmore- foul, Francis-foul  

Attendance: 453

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Marcus Kelly

Klondike not claimed - ticket 1391.