Full Time:

Match Report

IN BRIEF:

The Poppies won this game ‘ugly’. It wasn’t a classic- not helped by conditions- but two second half goals from central defenders, Chris Smith and Connor Johnson in the 52nd and 72nd minutes put the home team in control. Chorley scored from the penalty spot on 75 minutes through Connor Hall but Kettering hung on to the points with relative comfort. 

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

With Gary Stohrer back from suspension, he started and captained the side. Callum Stead reverted to the substitutes bench, with still not fully fit goalkeeper, Rhys Davies dropping out of the squad.

TEAM LINE-UPS:

KETTERING TOWN:

1    Jackson Smith

2    Connor Barrett

3    Alex Brown

4    Jack Smith (7 Callum Stead,63)

5    Connor Johnson

6    Chris Smith

9    Gary Stohrer (Captain)

10  Jordan Crawford (16 Ty Deacon,63)

11  Rhys Sharpe

17  Decarrey Sheriff

23  Liam Daly

Unused Substitutes:

12  George Herbert

14  Jack Empson

15  Saul Milovanovic

Yellow Cards: Chris Smith,74;Stead,87. 

CHORLEY

1    Matt Urwin

4    Andy Halls

5    Scott Leather (Captain)

6    Lewis Baines

7    Billy Whitehouse (32 Brad Holmes,68)

8    Mike Calverley

9    Jack Sampson (12 Jacob Blyth,46)

13  Ollie Shenton

16  Adam Blakeman

19  Millenic Alli (11 Jon Ustabasi,82)

27  Connor Hall

Unused substitutes:

15  Bobby Carroll

20  Myles Bright

Yellow Cards: Shenton,29;Holmes,74

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

It was a glorious day at Latimer Park and there was a moderate breeze behind Kettering as they started the game attacking the Morrisons end. The pitch had hardened out in the dry weather and the surface was hard in places.

Kettering started well and in just the 5th minute defender Chris Smith rattled the crossbar with a header from a corner. The next minute saw Jordan Crawford race down the left and, with more time than he thought, his cross was wild and out of play.

Chorley countered and dangerous striker, Connor Hall, got the better of Liam Daly but his shot was poor and over the bar. On 9 minutes left winger, Millenic Alli’s pace got him clear down the left and his low cross came off keeper Jackson Smith and flew over the bar. Smith was in action again three minutes later as he made a sharp save from Jack Sampson, diving to his right.

The Poppies had a great chance on 16 minutes as Alex Brown and Jordan Crawford combined on the left. As the ball came across, visiting keeper, Matt Urwin was out of position and Decarrey Sheriff’s overhead kick was cleared away from the line by a defender.

The Poppies were looking sharp and a few minutes later, Gary Stohrer set up Connor Barrett with a shooting chance on the right and Urwin made a good save from the accurate low shot. Chorley countered and a corner on 28 minutes saw danger for a moment in the six yard box and a frantic clearance averted the danger.

Ollie Shenton,for Chorley, was cautioned for a foul on Decarrey Sheriff on 29 minutes, as the Kettering player looked to go completely clear from the halfway line. Sheriff was looking lively and forced an unfruitful corner a few minutes later.

The half began to calm down and as it came towards a close Jack Sampson,for Chorley, shot over the bar from a decent position. The normally loud Kettering fans behind the goal had been uncharacteristically quiet during the half, albeit they were vocal about a poor decision by the Referee to award a goal kick to the visitors on 43 minutes, which was a clear corner.

HALF TIME:   KETTERING TOWN        0       -       0             CHORLEY

Chorley made a half time substitution with Jacob Blyth replacing Sampson up top. Some early good interplay set up Blyth for a 47th minute shot which was well blocked by the Kettering defence.

Alex Brown was finding a fair bit of space on the left, with Connor Barrett more restricted on the right looking after Alli. Brown got well forward in the 51st minute, went past his man, and his low shot was pushed away for a corner by the diving Urwin. From the restart the ball dropped kindly at the back post for Chris Smith to poke in and open the scoring. 1-0 Kettering 52 minutes

Chorley could have equalised straight away from the restart. Whitehouse  got away on the right, crossed low and Alli blazed the great chance high over the bar.

Kettering responded and Barrett’s punt forward found Sheriff, who had a decent chance but his left foot shot was high over. It was getting end to end and on 59 minutes the speedy Alli got a cross in for Whitehouse who also hooked his shot well over the bar.

The Referee showed a yellow card to the Chorley bench after a break in play, presumably for something said. Kettering made two substitutions on 63 minutes with Ty Deacon and Callum Stead replacing Crawford and Jack Smith.

For Chorley, Whitehouse spooned another shot on 68 minutes and he was promptly substituted by Brad Holmes who was soon in the Referee’s notebook for a foul. Lewis Baines’ header from a free kick was an easy pick up for Jackson Smith and straight away Kettering broke and forced a corner. Daly won the ball, set up Deacon and the shot was blocked on the goal line and cleared.

Kettering scored again in the 72nd minute. A simple cross in from a set piece found Connor Jonson, who headed down and in past Urwin. 2-0 Kettering 72 minutes.

Chorley suddenly stepped up their play reacting to the second goal. Just three minutes after the goal, Chris Smith hauled down Connor Hall for a clear penalty and Hall converted, 2-1 Kettering 75 minutes. Smith received a yellow card which could have been a red.

Chorley forced Kettering back without really causing keeper Jackson Smith any problems. In fact, Kettering,on the break, could have gone further ahead through Stead – but he spooned his shot high over the bar. Then Alex Brown broke at least 60 yards only to lose control as he reached the visitors’ penalty area and Urwin smothered.

With Kettering being pushed back, Sheriff made a timely clearance from a corner and finally Ty Deacon had a half chance but blazed over. Six added minutes saw Kettering play the game out for a deserved win.

FULL TIME :   KETTERING TOWN        2       -       1            CHORLEY 

Attendance: 857

Klondike: £215 won by Clive Johnston with ticket number 02441 

Poppies Man of the Match chosen by match Sponsors The Knottley Crew (in memory of Faye Knott): Connor Johnson

Remaining matches this season:

HOME:

YORK CITY – Tuesday April 5th at 7.45pm

GUISELEY – Tuesday April 12th at 7.45pm

GLOUCESTER CITY – Good Friday April 15th at 7.45pm

GATESHEAD – Saturday April 23rd at 3pm 

ALFRETON – Bank Holiday Monday May 2nd at 5pm

Away:

Southport - Saturday 2nd April at 3pm

Farsley Celtic – Saturday 9th April at 3pm

Kidderminster Harriers- Easter Monday 18th April at 3pm

AFC Fylde- Saturday April 30th at 3pm

Curzon Ashton- Saturday May 7th at 3pm