Full Time:

Match Report

IN BRIEF:

At the end of a largely uneventful 90 minutes with the scores level at 1-1, the game was decided on penalties. Connor Johnson had given Kettering the lead after just 7 minutes and Ty Deacon equalised for the Diamonds 5 minutes into the second half. The penalty shoot out was won, after 8 spot kicks, by the Diamonds 4-2 with ex Poppy goalkeeper, Dean Snedker, making two saves. 

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

The line up showed 7 changes. Dropping out of the starters were Jackson Smith, Chris Smith, Luke Ward, Alex Brown,Claudio Ofusu,Gary Stohrer and Callum Powell. In came Rhys Davies,Rhys Sharpe,Ed Cook,Connor Johnson,Jordon Crawford,Lamine Sherif and Harrison Neal. 

The teams lined up:

AFC RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS

1   Dean Snedker

2   Patrick Casey

3   Sam Warburton

4   Matt Slinn (14 Nathan Tshikuna,76)

5   Ryan Hughes

6   Alex Collard (Captain)

7   A J George (19 Connor Furlong,67)

8   Fernando Bell-Toxtle

9   Ty Deacon (12 Will Jones,79)

10 Ravi Shamsi

11 Ben Diamond

Unused substitutes:

15 Tom Lorraine

18 Ben Garwood

Yellow Cards: None 

KETTERING TOWN:

1  Rhys Davies

2  Connor Barrett

3  Rhys Sharpe

4  Luke O’Neill 

5  Ed Cook

6  Connor Johnson 

7  Jordon Crawford (15 Decarrey Sheriff,83)

8  Connor Kennedy 

9   Gerry McDonagh (24 Kyle Perry,72)

10 Lamine Sherif (16 Claudio Ofoso,90) 

11 Harrison Neal

Unused Substitutes:

12 Gary Stohrer

14 Chris Smith

Yellow card: Barrett,55 

THE GAME:

Rushden’s Ravi Shamsi fired into the side netting from a good position in just the third minute, and Kettering’s first attack on 7 minutes provided the opening goal with Connor Johnson coverting a low Jordon Crawford cross from the right.

Not a lot happened for fully 20 minutes until Shamsi put a free kick over the bar. Within a minute A J George cut in from the left and also fired well over Rhys Davies’ crossbar.

Kettering and Davies were a little fortunate on 33 minutes as Ty Deacon charged down an attempted clearance by the Kettering keeper but the rebound sailed wide of goal.

Harrison Neal fired wide with a left foot shot and Connor Kennedy fired over the bar as the half petered out.

Half Time:

AFC RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS       0          -      1          KETTERING TOWN

The home team came out more determined and a 48th minute header from a corner was scrambled clear. However, two minutes later the scores were tied when Ty Deacon converted  a loose ball after Davies had parried a shot away.

Connor Barrett was yellow carded on 55 minutes for a mistimed tackle, but two minutes later when Jordon Crawford was upended in the penalty area, the Referee reverted back to the disinterested individual he appeared to be all match.

Connor Kennedy assumed a more advanced role and shot wide on 58 minutes when set up by McDonagh.Two minutes later, Barrett set up Kennedy and he spurned a great chance as he fluffed his shot wide. Kennedy’s chances continued as he headed a Rhys Sharpe corner wide and then, chasing a long through ball, got in a great position only to again screw the ball wide.

At the other end Davies routinely palmed over a Shamsi shot. Almost immediately  home keeper,Dean Snedker, saved from Lamine Sherif.

Diamonds had two late fruitless corners and Kettering could have sealed it on 88 minutes as substitute Kyle Perry headed a Sharpe cross wide, and again on 92 minutes as Snedker somehow saved at point blank range as Kennedy again headed for goal.

Full Time:

AFC RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS       1          -       1          KETTERING TOWN

Penalty shoot out:

Kettering (going first):  2                      AFC Rushden and Diamonds: 4

Kyle Perry – save by Snedker            Sam Warburton- scored

Harrison Neal – scored                       Will Jones - scored

Rhys Sharpe – scored                          Nathan Tshikuna - scored

Claudio Ofosu – save by Snedker       Connor Furlong – scored

Attendance: 475 (away fans estimated at 60)

Referee: Andrew Humphries Assistants: Sam Anderson;Abdul Kadir

Poppies Media Man of the Match: Connor Johnson

Next HOME game:

Saturday November 13th  HOME to Blyth Spartans at 3pm

Other November games:

Tuesday November 16th away at Chorley at 7.45pm

Saturday November 20th away at York at 3pm

Saturday November 27th Buildbase F A Trophy  (tba)

Tuesday November 30th away at Hereford at 7.45pm

Match report posted by Sadman KTFC.