Redditch United  v  Kettering Town

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday  18th October 2025   3:00 pm

Referee:  Nicholas Whittington      Assistants:  Graham Hill and Ian Croston

It was almost a case of deja vu for the Kettering followers as they travelled to a ground less that 4 miles from the scene of last Saturday’s match at Alvechurch where the Poppies succumbed to two late goals in a game where a draw would have been a fair result. Mid week results had seen Kettering slip to sixth place as they were without a game due to Needham Market playing in the County Cup. Today’s opponents Redditch had produced a fine 3-2 away win at Halesowen and sat two places below Kettering in the league table separated only by goal difference.

Kettering’s last two matches at the Valley Stadium have both resulted in defeat. In 2023, under Andy Leese, Kettering playing down the slight slope looked to be in control in the first half but were made to pay for a missed Sam Bennett penalty. Redditch responded with two goals in the second half to take the win assisted in some part by the mysterious sending off of Lewis White. In January 2025, Kettering once again dominated the first half but were hit by a sucker punch goal a minute before half time. A quick Kettering double early in the second half looked to have turned the game but a Dan Jezeph error allowed Redditch back into the game and saw them run out 3-2 winners.

They say a week is a long time in politics and the same can be said for Kettering Town. Five players had left the club in the previous week. Kai Fifield had gone to Quorn on loan, Nile Ranger and Brandon Barker had been released by the club and Jamar Loza had been transferred to B Wing. The absence of Micah Anthony from the squad suggested that his loan from Bristol Rovers had ended. Simon Hollyhead was also missing due to personal reasons with his coaching staff taking control of the dug out. Another absence was that of Will Glennon last sighted at St Ives but not in the squad due to suffering from a cold. Two new players were in the match day squad. Romari Forde signed the previous weekend and Lewis Putman a Kettering target from the early days at Latimer Park finally joining the club aged 33. George Forsyth returned from injury resumed the captaincy started in midfield along with Wes York. Callum Powell returning to the venue where he sustained his long injury would start on the bench along with Andi Thanoj and the recalled from loan defender Romeo Ebondo.  

The day was overcast and mild with negligible wind. The pitch was of the 4g variety which had been re-laid in the summer had a curious bounce totally different to that at St Ives two weeks ago. 

Redditch United in all red kicked off playing down the slight slope with Kettering in their blue away kit.

Only two minutes had been played when Redditch won a free kick level with the edge of the penalty area close to the touchline as a Redditch player took full advantage of a outstretched Kettering leg to tumble to the floor. The kick was lifted into the box and cleared by the defence but only to a Redditch player midway inside Kettering’s half. The home player lobbed the ball back towards the Kettering goal. Andoh turned around to face his own goal looked to have the situation under control but, unwisely instead of opting for safety and putting the ball into row Z, tried to play his way out of danger. Under pressure from King, he only succeeded in losing his footing and coughing up possession to the Redditch man a mere 5 yards from goal. King steadied himself and shot at goal. The firm shot struck White and cannoned up into the air in a perfect parabolic trajectory, for the hosts, looping over the helpless Alexander before dropping unerringly inside the far post.  1-0 Redditch 4 mins

Redditch looked to press home their early advantage. Two minutes later, Edge stole the ball away from White on the half way line driving deep into Kettering’s half before delivering a good cross into Kettering’s area which Voice had to head behind for a corner with Reynolds coming in behind him. It was defended well and quickly turned into a counterattack with the ball being played forward offering an opening for Oppong but too fast for the Linesman who flagged for offside.

It was all Redditch at this stage and after a quarter of play forced another corner. It was taken quickly hoping to catch Kettering out but the move broke down, one of the first errors from the hosts. Kettering moved the ball forward to Fatadjo who picked the ball up about 30 yards from goal on Kettering’s left. Ismael started on a diagonal run across the face of goal looking for a chance to shoot but was constantly forced further wide. He finally found space but his shot from the edge of the area struck a defender and going behind for Kettering’s first corner. Lewis’ set piece was delivered to the right area away from the keeper but it was still met by a Redditch head and cleared.

Five minutes later, Redditch’s left back Eden won possession around the halfway line with a good tackle and raced down the wing exploiting the space with pace. He proceeded to deliver a great cross into the middle aiming for Reynolds who was shaping up to nod home when Voice intercepted the threatening ball by leaping high to send the ball behind for a corner that came to nothing.

Just before the half hour mark, Kettering produced their first threatening move. Fatadjo, who a couple of minutes earlier had required treatment, picked up the ball in the centre circle ran at the Redditch defence before threading a low ball into the penalty area for York to run onto. Goalie Warmington was alert to the danger though and quickly out of his goal, bravely diving at the feet of Wes to sweep the ball away with his arm to foil the attack.

Three minutes later, Fatadjo was in action again, this time on the receiving end. As Kettering played the ball forward Eden showed poor control and allowed the ball to bounce off of his shin and away from him. Ismael darted in to retrieve the loose ball as the defender lunged forward to rectify his error. Fatadjo reached the ball first but was forced to leap into the air to avoid serious injury but still was caught by the Redditch man. The incident was a borderline red but Mr Whittington showed leniency and only showed a yellow to the annoyance of the Kettering fans. This was further compounded by the Referee insisting that Ismael leave the field of play after treatment considering that it had taken too long. Considering the situation of the game with Kettering trailing 1-0 it would be unlikely that there was any degree of time wasting. Therefore, when Lewis took the kick Kettering were disadvantaged by only having 10 men on the field whilst the perpetrator of the foul was allowed to fully participate.

Shortly after, Oppong made progress down Kettering’s right and crossed the ball towards the far post where it was contested between two players. Edge, the defender, went to the floor holding his head and after a short continuation of the game Mr Whittington halted play to assess the condition of the defender. At the same time, Max Ram went to the floor requiring treatment. After both players were back on their feet play resumed with the ball being handed to Redditch’s goalkeeper in accordance with current rules.

With just over five minutes of the half remaining, Ram went to the floor again and had to be substituted being replaced by Ben Richards.

Inside the final five minutes of the half, Kettering’s hopes of going into the break trailing by a single goal were shattered. Warmington sent a free kick long down Kettering’s left. King pirouetted around Voice to run onto the loose ball comprehensively beating the central defender before delivering a pinpoint low cross which failed to be cut out by the defence to reach Reynolds at the far post to tap home to double the lead. 2-0 Redditch 42 mins

It could have been worse as in the final minute of the half Redditch forced another corner which this time Kettering dealt with.

    Half Time:  Redditch United  2  Kettering Town 0 

Kettering made two changes at half time with Callum Powell and Lewis Putman coming on for Aksum White and Eddie Oppong.

Five minutes in and a good Redditch attack down Kettering’s right saw York beaten as Loughlan and Reynolds broke down with Alexander grabbing the ball.

Two minutes later, Redditch increased their lead. A probe down Kettering’s left saw Loughlan headed the ball onto Reynolds inside the penalty area. Holding the ball up, he played it back to his captain Flanagan unmarked on the edge of the area in a central position taking a touch before planting it low inside Alexander’s left-hand post. 3-0 Redditch 52 mins

Kettering made a substitution before the restart with Andi Thanoj replacing Levi Andoh. The Poppies tried to respond and a neat passing triangle between Powell, Fatadjo and Voice saw Callum make a run across the edge of the penalty area and fire off a shot aimed at the far post but Warmington used his feet well to move across the goal to collect the ball. Moments later, a similar move presented another chance for Powell cutting in from the left but his shot drifted high and wide with Warmington watching it all the way.

Ten minutes into the second half with three points beckoning, Redditch made a double substitution with no doubt their local derby meeting with Alvechurch in mind. Loughlan and Reynolds departed to be replaced by Tyler Bruck and debutant Joziah Barnett.

A minute later, and Redditch were guilty of trying to be cute inside their own penalty area looking to play the ball out from the back. Soleman was caught in possession just inside his own penalty area and Thanoj robbed the ball off him which broke to Powell but, with Warmington covering his near post, Callum’s shot went high and wide of the far post.

Just after the hour mark, Romari Forde came on to make his Kettering debut replacing Connor Stanley.

The game got it’s second yellow card after sixty-four minutes when Owen picked up a needless yellow card (considering the match situation) for pulling down Fatadjo some five yards outside the penalty area. Powell took the set piece with a direct shot at goal which was comfortably collected by Warmington.

With sixty-eight minutes gone, Redditch should have made it four. Flanagan, tight on the touchline in front of the home dug out, switched the play beautifully to the opposite flank to King. The forward took the ball close to the corner flag and was faced by Voice with Powell jogging back to support. Caden put in a tackle and the ball spun behind the defender. The two Kettering players stopped expecting the ball to go behind for a goal kick but King stepped past Voice and collected the ball before it had gone out and played a low ball into the middle towards Bruck who failed to make a clean connection on the ball and merely helped it on it’s way across the face of goal. It fell to Soleman near the far post who saw his first shot blocked by a combination of York and Alexander. The rebound went past the forward but he stuck to his task and pivoted to try and back heeled the ball towards goal but Kettering’s defence held firm to clear the ball.

With twenty minutes to play, Kettering came closest to scoring. The ball was played out wide to Powell. Callum aimed a ball into the goalmouth towards Putman. Lewis, with a defender tight on his back from about 6 yards out, flicked the ball first time at the goal. Warmington reacted with lightening fast reflexes got down well but the ball squirmed under his body. The keeper again showing sharp reflexes turned over and hauled the ball into his arms as it was trickling towards the goal.

Shortly after, Stewart played the ball back to his keeper, Alexander’s first touch was not the best and he was quickly closed down by a forward forcing him to hurry his clearance. Due to this, it was not the best clearance going straight to the feet of Soleman some 30 yards out. He advanced a few yards before firing in a long range shot which had Alexander leaping to his left but the shot passed safely wide of the goal. It would be Soleman’s last contribution to the game as before the restart he was replaced by Billy Fielding.

With fifteen minutes to go, Kettering probed forward down their right. Stewart had got into an advanced position and sent a cross into the penalty area. Owen cut the ball out with his head but the ball looped into the air behind him and fell to Powell on the opposite side of the area. Callum took a touch but sent his half volley wide of the goal.

Before the resulting goal kick, Redditch made their final substitution with Omari Allwood replacing Morgan Owen. Shortly afterwards, Redditch hoisted the ball forward down Kettering’s left. Forsyth stood waiting for the ball but Voice running back towards his goal, eyes on the dropping ball, stepped in front of George and attempted to head the ball back towards his keeper. Barnett pounced on the ball. Covered by Stewart, he turned the ball inside to Fielding who returned the ball. Barnett looked to go past Stewart and lifted the ball to go around the defender. From a couple of feet away the ball struck Anthony’s arm which was close to his body and Mr Whittington had no hesitation in awarding what appeared to be a harsh penalty with a yellow card for Stewart as the cherry on top. Reece Flanagan comprehensively beat Alexander putting the ball in the bottom corner of the goal with a borderline illegal approach to the ball with a pause in his run up. 4-0 Redditch 79 mins

The final minutes of the game saw a strike from distance by Stewart pass wide of the post as the only action of note before the final whistle.

   Full Time: Redditch United  4   Kettering Town  0 

Any signs of recovery shown by the Kettering squad at Alvechurch the previous weekend was swept away by this miserable defeat. After conceding a very early goal, thanks to a fortuitous defection giving Alexander no chance, Kettering steadied the ship for the rest of the half with neither side unduly threatening the other’s goal. Kettering may possess talented ball players but Redditch showed tremendous energy rapidly closing down any visitor in possession rapidly followed by a second player on many occasions leaving the Kettering players no time to use the ball. With half time nearly upon them, Kettering looking to have weathered the storm and ready for a half time reset, for the second season running, conceded a second leaving the team with a tough task ahead of them. A Redditch goal early in the second half sealed the result. Powell saw plenty of the ball down Kettering’s right but could not test the Redditch keeper and appeared to be trying to turn the game single handedly. The one occasion when Kettering looked closest to getting a consolation goal was when he played the ball into Putman but Warmington in the Redditch goal showed sharp reactions to earn his clean sheet. A poor performance from Kettering to close a turbulent week at the club with no option but to learn the lessons of the defeat, turn the page and go again on Tuesday night at Banbury.

Redditch United yellow cards:   Edge, Owen – fouls   

Kettering Town yellow cards:  Stewart – handball                                                                     

Attendance: 610

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match –  With too many players who performed below par on the day,  Alexander conceded four goals with little chance of keeping them out but was not tested beyond that. The only player who emerged with any credit was Lewis Putman who, with very little preparation and knowledge of his teammates, provided a focal point for a Kettering attack that has failed to find the net in three successive games.