Kettering Town v Royston Town

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 20th December 2025  15:00

Referee:  Callum Timperley              Assistants: Thomas Burt and Richard Doorbar

With Tuesday’s evening game falling foul of the weather, the scheduled three home games in eight days failed to materialise. The postponement might benefit the club financially as having three games in quick succession at a time of year when money becomes tight coupled with a cold evening might have resulted in a low attendance. The expected attendance today would be suppressed with it being the last Saturday before Christmas competing demands on regular attendees time usually accounts for a dip in the gate to be compensated for by a larger than usual Boxing Day or New Year’s Day gate.

Today would be the reverse fixture of the opening day game at Garden Walk where Kettering edged it with a last gasp wonder strike by Eddie Oppong to steal all three points in a seven-goal thriller. It would prove to be Royston’s largest gate of the season so far as both sets of fans were confident for their team’s prospects for the coming season. For Kettering, it would be the first in a four-game winning streak but results since then have failed to live up to the early season promise. It has proved even worse for Royston having occupied a place in the relegation zone for most of the season. Today’s playing surface would be soft as thankfully no rain had fallen in the previous 36 hours, unlike in August when the pitch was bone hard, which contributed to Paul White’s horrible arm fracture sustained in the closing minutes of the game at Royston.

Of the Kettering side that started that match only Glennon and Thanoj would feature today with six of the team no longer at the club. Once again Liam McDonald would have to select a new back four line up. The signing of left back Ben Isaacson would be a welcome addition to the squad giving the team a first option in that position. The absence of Levi Andoh through paternity leave and George Forsyth’s continuing injury left a centre back slot to be filled. This was accomplished by moving Blaine Rowe inside and installing Preston Bitemo at right-back, a role he excels at in the draw at Halesowen. Midfield saw the return of Andi Thanoj who took the captain’s armband. Alongside him would be Alfie Lewis, Ismael Fatadjo and Ethan Fitzhugh making his first start. Eddie Panter would provide the forward threat supported by Callum Powell wide on the left. The sub’s bench looked particularly strong featuring York, Clifton, Williams, Oppong and Fifield.

The afternoon was mild, and bright with little chance of rain.

Royston Town in all yellow won the toss and elected to switch ends giving Kettering the kick off attacking the Tin Hat.

Royston started well and immediately started to apply pressure on the Kettering defence with Kettering old boy James Brighton sending long throw-ins into the Kettering penalty area from the stand side. One of these resulted in a Royston corner inside the third minute and Brighton delivered a out-swinging kick on the stand side aimed towards the penalty spot. It was met by Callum Powell but his clearance fell to Avgoustidis on the edge of the box but his first time shot was high over the bar.

The very next move saw more good approach work by the visitors. Bugyei-Kyei sent a great angled ball into the penalty area which saw Avgoustidis time his run to perfection but with the whole of the goal to aim at could only put his header wide of the post.

It was all Royston at this stage and the Crows won another corner on the stand side when a Brighton cross was deflected behind by Bitemo. Once again, Brighton delivered the ball into the danger area where it was met by the head of Royston’s long serving captain Murray who turned his free header towards Alexander’s left-hand post where Jason was forced to turn the ball behind erring on the side of caution. Brighton trotted across the pitch to try his luck from the open side with his fourth set piece in the opening six minutes. The penalty was packed for the kick and Harness got on the end of it but the ball harmlessly bounced off his head and into the hands of Alexander. Jason looked to clear the ball quickly but was prevented from doing so as Harness stepped across his as he was in the action of kicking the ball which drew a word of reprimand from Mr Timperly and a free kick to the Kettering keeper.

It was not until the eighth minute that Kettering got the ball into the opponents half with any purpose as Rowe played the ball down the open side for Powell to run onto. It looked like he was on the wrong side of the full back but a poor touch by Stephenson allowed Callum to pinch the ball off him and run into the penalty area before squaring the ball to Fatadjo. Ismael was quickly closed down so slipped the ball out to Fitzhugh who tried a shot which was blocked but Ethan was able to collect the rebound and with his back to goal filtered the ball back to Bitemo who had advanced to offer support. Preston lifted a tantalising ball into the box which just out paced the darting run by Panter who was a yard or so behind the ball as it carried on through into the hands of Chadwick.

Having appeared to have weathered the initial Royston surge Matthews sent a great ball forward down the open side which saw the full back Stephenson out pace the Kettering defence and send in a low cross aimed towards the near post. It deflected off Rowe back-tracking and Alexander had to be alert to get down low at his left-hand post to prevent an own goal and turn the ball behind for another Royston corner on the open side. The resulting set piece from Brighton was cleared by Rowe.

Kettering responded by moving the ball downfield where Panter lost out to Stephenson but at the expense of Kettering’s first corner on the stand side. The corner from Fitzhugh was attempted to be nodded on by Fatadjo but it fell to a defender who hoicked the ball away. Lewis collected it and played a similar ball to that tried by Bitemo some minutes earlier. This was slightly to the left-hand side of the goal and Panter dashed in and clinically tucked the ball away from six yards out. However, the reason Eddie was in so much space was that he had jumped early and was rightfully flagged offside by the Assistant Referee.

Ten minutes later and Royston generated another chance but once again failed to test Alexander. A free kick mid-way inside the Royston half was sent long down the open side by Chadwick. The ball was nodded on and Powell contested for the ball with Murray close to the corner flag. Callum appeared to get the better of the contest but was brought down as he attempted to clear the ball but Mr Timperley saw nothing wrong with the challenge. Royston regained possession and lifted the ball into the penalty area where Rowe headed the ball away but with little distance and the ball fell to Bugyei-Kyei on the edge of the penalty area. He showed a deft touch to cushion the ball on his left thigh setting himself up for a shot but it did not match his initial touch and the weak shot passed well wide of Alexander’s left-hand post.

The game got it’s first booking after twenty-seven minutes when Fitzhugh pushed the ball past Brighton on Kettering’s right wing. Determined not to be beaten, Brighton caught Ethan late bringing him down. The resulting free kick was lifted into the box by Fitzhugh and was easily headed away but only straight to Bitemo who turned the ball out to Powell on the opposite wing. Callum sent the ball back into the goal mouth where it was headed away by Brighton. It only carried as far as Lewis who carried the ball forward a couple of yards to the edge of the penalty area before firing in a low shot aimed at Chadwick’s right-hand post. It might have been going wide but Panter darted forward and got a touch on the ball from six yards out diverting it enough to give the keeper no chance of saving the ball. 1-0 Kettering 29 mins

From the restart Royston played the ball back to Brighton but a fired up Panter had raced deep into the Royston half and closed down the defender blocking his attempted clearance. The ball broke kindly for Eddie and he collected the loose ball but had to hold play up to await support from his teammates. He lifted the ball across the penalty area towards Powell but Stephenson managed to intercept the ball heading it up into the air where it dropped to Fatadjo who, while shaping up for a shot, appeared to be bundled to the floor but the Referee saw no offence and play continued as Royston cleared the ball.

Just after thirty minutes play was stopped with Royston on the attack as Fatadjo and Beckett clashed heads in the middle of the park. Royston were aggrieved but as both players required treatment for head injuries the Referee was justified in stopping the game and awarded Royston a drop ball a few yards outside the Kettering penalty area. The drop ball was touched back to Brighton who sent a hanging ball into the goalmouth. Alexander, with Murray running in, elected to punch the ball away with his hands above his head. With the ball being some 7′ in the air Murray elected to continue his run with no chance of reaching the ball and ran into Jason knocking him to the ground in a totally avoidable collision. Mr Timperley had a brief word with Murray but that was all for the player whose challenge on Paul White in the return fixture at Garden Walk led to the Kettering’s keeper serious arm fracture.

With ten minutes remaining in the half, a slick first-time passing movement down the middle of the pack between Lewis, Panter and Fitzhugh saw Ethan have a shot at goal but Chadwick had positioned himself well to be in the ideal spot to catch the ball.

Three minutes later and it should have been two for Kettering. Powell flicked the ball on for Panter tight on the open side touchline. He carried the ball forward before delivering a low cross parallel with the 6-yard box. It was in front of Powell but arrived at Lewis on the far side of the goal with the easiest of chances to tuck the ball home with Chadwick struggling to get in position. As the ball stayed low Alfie totally missed his kick when contact of any sort would have sent the net bulging. A gilt-edged chance squandered.

With nothing to lose, Royston made a tactical changed their formation with Fredrick moving into the back four with Murray moving into a forward role.

Three additional minutes would be added at the end of the regulation forty-five but no action of any note occurred in the extra time.

Half Time: Kettering Town 1  Royston Town 0

At half time Royston made a personnel change with Franco Ciuffa replacing Harvey Beckett who had received treatment for a head injury in the first half.

From the kick-off Royston, as in the first half, were straight on the attack and inside the first minute Murray, chancing his arm from 30 yards out, sent a shot over the bar as well as the Tin Hat.

From the goal-kick the ball was sent long down the pitch. It looked like it would run out for a goal-kick at the ProSaw end but Powell to his credit chased a seemingly lost cause and managed to retrieve the ball before it went out. Having out-run any support Callum had little option to go on his own and fired in a shot aimed towards the near post. It was blocked by a defender and cleared.

Five minutes later and Isaacson picked up a loose ball midway inside his own half. Looking like he was carrying the ball forward on his own he looked up and threaded a great ball through for Fatadjo to run onto getting behind the Royston back line. Ismael made to cut inside as he was faced up to by Stephenson but with Powell going by Fatadjo on the outside like a steam train Ismael rolled the ball into his path allowing Callum to lift a measured cross into the goalmouth. It was headed away by Matthews but straight to Fatadjo on the edge of the penalty area but his first time shot sailed over the bar.

Royston were not out of the game yet and they were pressing forward at every opportunity and looked dangerous but could not finish their positivity and failed to test Alexander in the Kettering goal.

Ten minutes of the half had gone when Thanoj lifted a ball down Royston’s left. A defender headed the ball away but generated more height than distance and the ball came down midway inside the visitor’s half where Isaacson controlled the ball sublimely with his chest taking the pace of the ball and sending it to the floor just in front of himself. Such was the quality of the touch it caused the nearest defender Stephenson to tie himself in knots trying to follow the flight of the ball causing him to lose his footing. Ben carried the ball forward before moving to his right and hitting a powerful shot from the top of the ‘D.’ With the keeper already diving to his left, Brighton bravely put his head into the path of the ball, and such was it’s force, it knocked James off his feet leaving him flat on his back. Mr Timperley had no hesitation in stopping play to ensure the welfare of the player.

From the drop ball restart the ball was played to Fitzhugh whose shot once again felled a Royston defender by striking his head with the ball before going out for a throw-in. Rowe tossed the ball high into the area where it was headed away by a defender but fell to Isaacson some 30 yards out from where he hit a first-time rasping volley which passed narrowly over the bar.

Just after the hour mark, Bitemo threaded a ball through for Panter to run onto. Chadwick was alert to the danger and was quickly off his line to beat Eddie to the ball. The next minute Thanoj played a similar through ball but this time Panter reached the ball first. Before reaching the keeper, Eddie played the ball to his left towards Powell before Chadwick collided with Panter. The ball was slightly behind Callum who had to retrace his steps back to the ball allowing Stephenson to position himself between Powell and the goal. Callum squared the ball to Fatadjo near the penalty spot who calmly passed the ball into the corner of the goal evading the desperate effort of Brighton on the line to keep the ball out. 2-0 Kettering 63 mins

Royston were unhappy with the decision pointing to the fact that Chadwick had been flat on the floor following the collision with Panter as the goal was scored. Play was held up while Chadwick received lengthy treatment. Royston’s substitute keeper stripped off ready to come on but Chadwick was well enough to continue.

With just over twenty minutes to go Kettering made their first change with Kai Williams replacing Ethan Fitzhugh.

Shortly after, Powell, mid-way inside his own half, played the ball into the path of Isaacson who ate up the ground with his long strides as he burst forward with a fair degree of pace. He penetrated deep into the Royston penalty area but having out run any support, he looked to turn his marker to enable him to utilise the ball. Matthews managed to get between Ben and the ball causing the left back to lose possession as Harness had tracked back to clear the loose ball but only succeeded in sending it straight to the feet of Powell. Callum shaped up for a shot looking to curl the ball in from the edge of the area but merely sent the ball straight at Chadwick for an easy stop.

With seventy minutes played Royston made their second substitution with debutant Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei who had just received treatment being replaced by another debutant Konstantin Ivanov.

Despite Fatadjo having to receive treatment after receiving a knock whilst defending a free-kick, Kettering’s next substitution on seventy-four minutes saw Callum Powell replaced by James Clifton.

With time running out for Royston to salvage something from the game Kettering hammered the final nail in the visitor’s coffin. Thanoj threaded a ball down the left wing for Isaacson to run onto. Ben, who had had a fine debut, let the ball run almost to the by-line before lifting a looping cross into the middle. Clifton, with close attention from Brighton, made a nuisance of himself with Chadwick prevented from coming for the ball by the presence of his own defender. The ball ran off Clifton’s thigh and back to Panter close to the penalty spot who struck a firm first time low shot. Chadwick made to throw himself to his left but the ball struck Ivanov and ballooned up into the air as Chadwick fell onto his back. The momentum of the ball carried it over the keeper’s body who tried to reach behind himself to prevent the ball crossing the goal line and managed to fish the ball out but the Assistant Referee flagged to indicate that the ball had crossed the line.

 3-0 Kettering 78 mins

Once again Royston were disappointed with the officials decision. Before the restart Kettering made a double substitution with Ismael Fatadjo and Eddie Panter made way for Wes York and Kai Fifield. Shortly after, Kettering made their final change with Eddie Oppong coming on for Preston Bitemo necessitating Isaacson to move to right-back with Oppong filling in at left-back.

Inside the last five minutes a decision from Mr Timperly upset Royston. A ball lofted forward by the visitors was attempted to be cut out by a leaping Rowe. He managed to get his head to the ball but could not prevent it continuing on it’s path but as he was coming down, he was clattered into by St Clair-Burton who inadvertently caught Blaine a glancing blow to the side of his head with his thigh. The Referee dealt with it being an obvious head injury and instantly halted play to the annoyance of Murray who questioned the decision with the official. Rowe received treatment from Michael Hunter and was led groggily from the pitch and with Kettering having made all it’s substitution the hosts would continue with one player short.

The restart was lifted into the Kettering penalty area but came to nothing and Kettering cleared deep but was turned back towards Kettering’s half by a defender. Lewis picked up the loose ball and played a lofted cross field ball towards Fifield. Kai showed an excellent touch to control the ball. He moved into the penalty area facing up to Stephenson moving past the full back he found his path to goal blocked by Murray who had tracked back at least 30 yards showing his ability to read the game. Unfazed, Fifield turned the ball along the ground across the face of the goal with Clifton being a foot or so short of being able to have a simple tap in at the back post but the ball alluded him and trickled past the post for a goal kick.

There would be five additional minutes to be played and in the first of those Royston made their final substitution with Jamie Judge coming on for Kian Harness.

Kettering had another chance to increase their lead In the dying minutes of the game when York played a ball forward for Fifield to run onto. Letting the ball run Kai hit a first-time cross squaring the ball into the middle which passed agonisingly a yard in front of Clifton and a similar distance behind Williams before being put behind for a corner by Frederick. The corner was taken short and a cross from Isaacson was deflected behind for another corner which was cleared by Royston for the last action of note of the game.

Full Time: Kettering Town 3  Royston Town 0

A casual glance at the scoreline might give the impression that this match was a stroll in the park for the hosts, but the truth of the matter is that the game was closer than it seems. Royston started the game with purpose forcing Kettering onto the back foot and winning a succession of corners as the hosts struggled to get the ball out of their own half. The visitors lacked a player capable of converting the chances into goal scoring opportunities. When Kettering thought that they had scored after fifteen minutes even though it was disallowed for offside Royston’s self confidence seemed to evaporate along with their attacking mentality. The opening goal after half an hour sank the visitors into a depression, and if Kettering had converted a golden opportunity to double the lead shortly before half-time, the match would have been over.

Royston’s manager’s haft-time team talk restored some self-belief into his team but Kettering had warmed to the task in hand and with their goal lead were more than equal to the opposition attacking with greater purpose. Kettering’s second goal ended the game as a contest enabling Liam McDonald the luxury of rotating his players giving the entire bench a chance to show their capabilities.

A good three points for Kettering in a game they were expected to win but they gave a solid defensive display for a makeshift back four giving Jason Alexander a quiet second half. Towards the end, the team showed that they could generate openings by attacking down the flanks a tactic which could offer an effective striking method with which to upset Harborough Town next weekend unlike last season when the side played into the hands of their strength by hoisting high balls through the middle with no effect.

Kettering Town yellow cards: none

Royston Town yellow cards: Brighton – foul 

Attendance: 731

Kettering Town M-of-the-M selected by Travis Perkins – Eddie Panter–  Eddie further endeared himself to the Kettering supporters with a brace of goals to take his tally to three strikes in four games. There is much more to his game than putting the ball in the net with his selfless off the ball runs creating openings for his teammates. He is full of energy and his positive attitude cannot help but rub off on his fellow players lifting the entire squad with his positivity. Mention must also be made of the debut performance of Ben Isaacson who not only filled the problematic left-back spot but also demonstrated his pace and determination to advance up the pitch with his excellent cross leading to Kettering’s second goal.