Kettering Town v Bromsgrove Sporting

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 7th March 2026  15:00

Referee:  Matthew Jackson              Assistants: William Doyle and Kurt Bartlett

Eleven weeks have passed since Kettering last played on Saturday afternoon at Latimer Park and the team would be looking to build on the good performance of Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Stratford.

Today’s opponents Bromsgrove, currently sit in fifteenth place on 34 points just two points above the relegation places sitting top of a cluster of five teams spanned by a two-point margin. So, their manager Tim Flowers would be looking to leave Latimer Park with something more than muddy boots. They come into the game having won 5 points out of a possible15 from their last five games with 2 draws and a 5-3 home win last Saturday over fellow strugglers AFC Sudbury. Bromsgrove were 3-1 down and had Luke Benbow sent off mid-way through the first half. Instrumental in the comeback was former Poppy Ty Lewthwaite who scored twice in five minutes. The red card means that Benbow is suspended for today’s game, beneficial for Kettering, as he always seems to perform well when facing the Poppies.

Kettering would be looking for a change of form against the Rouslers having lost their last two meetings, a 3-0 defeat at The Victoria Ground back in November and last season, a home defeat  in January the third in a string of three successive losses as relegation threatened Bromsgrove upset the form book by winning 2-1.

Liam McDonald once again cycled his squad looking to manage fatigue with a series of two games a week to be played up to and beyond Easter. The defence would remain unchanged but in midfield Andi Thanoj, Wes York and Ismael Fatadjo would start with Kai Williams, Kai Fifield and Will Van Lier reverting to the bench. Levi Andoh had recovered sufficiently from his injury sustained at St Ives and would take a place on the bench alongside Nathan Jeche leaving no room for Callum Powell. Jason Alexander participated in the warmup but would continue to rest.

The afternoon was overcast, windless but dry although coats were required to keep out the chill. The pitch looked in very good condition even the problem area on the open side at the Tin Hat end had responded well to the attention paid to it by the ground staff.

Kettering won the toss and elected to attack the Pro-Saw stand giving Bromsgrove Sporting in green and white shirts and Prussian blue shorts with green socks the kick off attacking the Tin Hat.

Kettering, unlike in recent games, started well and attacked from the off with Lewis feeding the ball outside to Coyle in the middle of the park on the stand side touchline in the left wing-back position. He threaded the ball forward for York to run onto. Wes took possession of the ball tight on the by-line and held the ball up before retracing his steps to try to cross the ball with his right foot. He was well marshalled by Green who managed to block the cross only for it to run to Coyle  who over-lapped York to deliver a deep cross aimed towards the back post where a defender opting for safety first nodded it behind giving Kettering a corner on the open side in the second minute of the game. Coyle lifted an in-swinging corner into the goalmouth  but it was headed away. Kettering retained possession but failed to generate an opening and Sporting cleared the ball downfield.

Seven minutes had been played when Kettering played the ball forward to Lewis mid-way inside the Bromsgrove half. Alfie, with some space in front of him, decided to take the ball forward on his own. He showed good close control weaving past Roberts and then Green but Green stuck to his task and managed to block Lewis’s shot and allowing the ball to be cleared.

Ten minutes had been played when Bromsgrove had their first sight of goal. Newell fed the ball out to Ryley on the wing who then floated a cross into the middle towards Newell who’d continued his run. He got a glancing header onto the ball but sent it straight into the hands of White for a routine catch. Paul bowled the ball out to Coyle who sent the ball long down the left wing for Panter to chase. With it looking like Eddie would leave him for dust Roberts stepped into the path of the forward to send him crashing to the deck with no attempt to reach the ball. Mr Jackson gave the Bromsgrove captain a stern talking to but no card. Fatadjo took the free kick but sent it too close to the keeper who collected it with ease.

Kettering won a corner on the open side on the quarter hour mark but before Fatadjo could take the set-piece Mr Jackson had to hold up play to sort out the pushing and holding going on in the penalty area. He singled out the two captains Forsyth and Roberts for a talking to but they were by no means the only guilty parties. A theme that would reoccur throughout the match. The corner when eventually taken came to nothing.

Just short of the twenty-minute mark Bromsgrove counter-attacked with Belmonte spreading the ball wide to Ryley in plenty of space on the stand side. He advanced into the penalty area but Isaacson had come back to cover barring the path forward for Ryley who tried a shot which cannoned off Ben and back to Green following up but his first time effort went well over the bar. Before the game could restart, the Referee’s attention was drawn to Bitemo on the floor mid-way inside the Kettering half. During the move Preston was chasing back to assist in defence when he was pulled down by Flint from behind who had then contacted the Kettering player’s head as he had run past. Mr Jackson had not seen the incident but on consulting his Assistant on that side booked Flint. It would not be the last caution of the match.

Four minutes later, Fatadjo would join him in the Referee’s notebook. Belmonte on the half-way line nodded the ball forward to Lewthwaite who controlled the ball and turned to advance towards the Kettering goal. Fatadjo from just behind Ty slid in and took the ball away from him but Lewthwaite went over Ismael’s leg going to the floor theatrically throwing him arms in the air to win Bromsgrove a free kick in a dangerous position and Fatadjo a yellow card.

The free kick was just left of centre and about 25 yards out. White positioned a four-man wall as Kelly ran over the back and flicked it backwards into the path of Belmonte whose low shot went directly into the wall and was cleared down field by Fatadjo where it was chased by Panter. Flint left back as a covering player looked favourite to reach the ball but in attempting to keep the ball from going out on in front of the Kettering bench coughed up possession to Eddie who streaked forward with the ball before threading the ball into the path of the fast arriving Fatadjo but Brown was quickly off his line and reached the ball marginally before Ismael.

Shortly after, a long clearance forward by Rowe was aimed towards Panter again who raced forwards with the ball before sending in a cross aimed towards Fatadjo which was cut out by Green with a vital interception at the expense of a corner. The set-piece taken by Coyle on the open side was swung into the middle where Isaacson who had evaded his marker for a free header failed to make meaningful contact on the ball to send the ball trickling past the far post for a goal kick.

As the game approached the thirty-minute mark Bromsgrove won their first corner of the game when a long throw tossed into the Kettering penalty area was deflected behind. The corner from the stand side was aimed towards the near post where it was flicked goalwards by Green but  Lewis challenging got enough on it to sent it behind for another corner. The follow up kick was cleanly collected by White and quickly tossed out to Lewis who broke quickly downfield. Inside the Bromsgrove half he was challenged by Green. Alfie pirouetted with the ball at his feet but was prevented form retaining possession as Green grabbed him around the waist and pulled the Kettering man away from the ball conceding a free-kick and himself a yellow card.

Minutes later Coyle sent a ball down the left wing for Panter to chase. Roberts made contact with Eddie as he raced past him but he did not push the matter mindful of the Referee’s generosity in awarding yellow cards allowing Panter to make it all the way to the by-line and send in a fierce low cross-field ball. The ball passed a defender and the keeper at the near post to meet Kelly about a yard out in the middle of the goal. The defender with no margin for error managed to get a touch on the ball with his right foot and out for a corner when any mistake on Kelly’s behalf would have led to an own goal.

It was all Kettering at this stage and shortly after Lewis broke forward in the middle of the park before feeding the ball forward to York on the edge of the box. Wes turned the ball out to the left wing to the waiting Coyle who curled a cross towards the far post where it narrowly passed over the head of Panter. Rowe was steaming up in support and hit a first time shot from an acute angle but could only find the side netting.

Such was Kettering’s dominance at this stage before the goal kick could be taken Brown in the Bromsgrove goal was troubled by a mysterious ailment causing him to go to the floor requiring him to receive treatment. Meanwhile all his teammates made for their bench to receive tactical adjustments. Such was the ability of the visitor’s Sports Therapist after a brief spot of therapy Brown regained his feet looking none the worse for wear and remained untroubled by the affliction for the remainder of the match.

On Kettering’s next foray forward through Bitemo, Bromsgrove once again showed their determination to stop the hosts at any cost as Ryley hacked down Preston in front of the home bench resulting in another booking. The free-kick was lifted in by Coyle towards the back post but was slightly too high for Isaacson and went directly behind for a goal-kick.

Shortly after, Green lifted the ball into the Kettering penalty area in a rare Bromsgrove attack. The defence cleared the ball with ease and Kettering looked to be on the attack again but Lewis had the ball taken away from him and was heading out of play when Belmonte making his debut for Bromsgrove took possession 5 yards inside Kettering’s half and without looking hit a “pass” back towards his own goal. It was nowhere near any of his teammates and woefully under-hit to reach his keeper. It was raced onto by Panter with the nearest defender at least 10 yards away. With only Brown to beat from 10 yards out he looked set to score when the “Burton Bobble” struck causing Eddie to send the ball over the bar leaving both the keeper and Belmonte relieved and Panter giving the pitch a hard stare.

With the game entering the final minutes of the half Bromsgrove pumped a ball high into the penalty area. Once again, the defence were on top and the ball was cleared with ease downfield by Fatadjo. The ball was played forward to Panter who showed great skill in controlling the ball to enable him to carry it forward. Eddie pushed the ball past the defender and was cut down by Lyden who had made no attempt to play the ball to cause Mr Jackson to produce another yellow card. Coyle once again, this time from the corner of the penalty area sent the ball towards the far post. This time Isaacson had generated separation between himself and his marker Lewthwaite giving himself a free header which Brown who flapped at the ball in what should have been a routine save but could not keep the ball out.1-0 Kettering 45 mins

As the players lined up for the restart two minutes of additional time was announced during which Kelly lifted a ball into Kettering penalty area but Lewthwaite sent his glancing header wide.

  Half Time: Kettering Town 1  Bromsgrove Sporting 0

 Neither side made any personnel changes at half time

Only two minutes of the second half had been played when Bromsgrove had a great chance to pull level. Ryley had made progress down Kettering’s right before being held up by Bitemo. He played the ball forward for Kelly running around on the overlap but York slid in to send the ball behind for a corner as the left-back was shaping up for a cross. Belmonte delivered the set-piece from the turnstile corner towards Lewthwaite at the near post. Ty stooped to head the ball and it bounced in front of White and was heading in but Coyle, stationed on the line, headed it away with Roberts closing-in behind him, ready to pounce on any leftovers. The follow-up corner came to nothing.

Bromsgrove was having the best of the play in the second half and only a great save by White on fifty-seven minutes prevented the visitors from equalising. Belmonte picked the ball up in space just inside Kettering’s half and then threaded a great ball through into the path of Flint who was running into the gap between Isaacson and Coyle. Isaacson running back had to check his run fearful of bringing down the Bromsgrove man right on the edge of the area. This allowed Flint to advance into the area but he slightly overran the ball and the delay in allowing the ball to catch up with him was time enough for White to race out and close him down. Flint tried to side foot the ball past White’s left-hand side but Paul was too close and spread himself to block the ball away as Kettering eventually cleared the ball away.

The Kettering bench heeded the warning and two minutes later made their first substitution with Ismael Fatadjo, who’d gone down requiring treatment in the first half, being withdrawn in favour of Will Van Lier.

Just after the hour mark, the visitors had an appeal for handball by Forsyth in the Kettering penalty area. Bromsgrove were attacking down the stand side and the ball was lifted into the middle where the two shortest players on the pitch, Coyle and Flint contested the ball in the air. Lewis won the challenge and nodded the ball a few yards away where Forsyth headed the ball but it went straight onto his upper arm. The Referee who had a clear view of the incident considered the arm to be in a natural position and allowed play to continue with Forsyth clearing the ball downfield.

Kettering were having trouble clearing the ball out of their own territory and when they did fail to maintain possession allowing Bromsgrove to come forward once again. As the visitors pressed forward it left them vulnerable to counterattacks and on sixty-four minutes Thanoj lifted the ball over the Bromsgrove back line for Panter to run onto with Roberts in close pursuit. Eddie entered the penalty area before getting a shot off but the Bromsgrove captain half a pace behind managed to get a foot to the ball to block it behind for a corner which came to nothing.

With twenty minutes to go another high ball was pumped forward by Kettering in the direction of Panter and Roberts who collided leaving both players on the floor. Eddie was swiftly on his feet chasing the loose ball. Brown came sprinting out of his penalty area and threw himself at the ball sliding on the floor reaching it moments before Panter arrived. With the keeper on the floor inches from the forward, it was inevitable that the players would collide which they did. A free kick was awarded to Bromsgrove but Panter was also booked in a situation which could not avoid having the right to challenge for the ball.

A couple of minutes later Bromsgrove made their first change of the game with Bradley Stretton replacing Niall Flint, one of the visitors on a yellow card.

Kettering followed suit on seventy-four minutes with Kai Fifield coming on for Wes York just before a free kick for Kettering on the open side level with the edge of the penalty area but a yard in from the touchline. Coyle floated the ball in but Isaacson could not challenge for the ball as he was on the floor with Roberts pinning him down but Mr Jackson saw no offence as Rowe nodded the ball on at the near post. The ball passed across the face of the goal to Forsyth who turned the ball goal wards but it was blocked behind by Green.

Kettering were now playing the game with Van Lier sending a header goal wards easily collected by Brown. Shortly after, Fifield tested the Bromsgrove defence down the open side taking on two defenders and managing to get past them to reach the by-line where he sent in a low cross but once again Brown cut the ball out.

Bromsgrove made their second substitution with seven minutes to go with Theo Robinson replacing Jordan Lyden. From the restart, Bromsgrove sent the ball forward into the Kettering penalty area where it was cleared to Van Lier some 10 yards outside the area. He turned up-field ready to move into the acres of space in front of him when Stretton just reached out with a fully extended arm and grabbed Will’s shirt to yank him back. No subtlety, just a blatant foul which deservedly caused Mr Jackson to produce another yellow card. Before taking the free-kick Kettering made another change with Preston Bitemo being replaced by Nathan Jeche.

Shortly after Kettering produced a flowing passing move when Van Lier picked up the ball mid-way inside his own half. Will played the ball forward to Panter who touched the ball inside with a first-time pass to Jeche before carrying on a run towards the Bromsgrove goal. Nathan was just getting the ball under control when Roberts tracking back took the ball off him. Fortunately, the loose ball broke to Lewis who beat Roberts before slipping the ball outside to Fifield just inside the penalty area. Kai’s angle to goal was not the best for a shot so he played the percentages and played a low diagonal ball to Panter but it was just a yard ahead of Eddie denying him a simple tap-in chance.

The resulting goal-kick was sent downfield some 5 yards inside the Kettering half where it was contested on the ground with Van Lier, Lewis, Thanoj, Newell and Stretton all involved. Stretton appeared to trip Lewis to take possession form Alfie as he struggled to keep balance and he then tried to take the ball past Thanoj with a jump turn. At this point he lost control of the ball and it was stolen away from him by Van Lier at which point he made a two footed jump challenge on Will catching him painfully on his shin. It was contested as a disgraceful challenge by the KTFC players worthy of a card be it yellow or red. The Kettering players were upset by the challenge making their feeling known to the Referee including Jeche who was perfectly positioned to see the incident. The Referee singled Nathan out for a booking without speaking to the perpetrator who he’d booked only three minutes previously.

With only two minutes left of normal time Bromsgrove were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the Kettering penalty area. Stretton who shouldn’t have been on the pitch took responsibility for the set-piece and Karma was dispensed as he sent the ball narrowly over the bar.

Six additional minutes would be played but it a was scrappy affair punctuated with a string of substitutions causing the game to become disjointed and elongating the time to be played. Kettering made the initial change after ninety-one minutes with Levi Andoh replacing Eddie Panter.

After winning a corner which resulted in a scramble in the Kettering penalty area before Rowe cleared it away for a throw in on the open side. Before the throw Bromsgrove swapped Kyle Rowley for Kyle Belmonte. Two successive Bromsgrove corners followed but the Kettering defence held firm. This was followed by Archie Duerden replacing Jack Newell for the visitors.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time a Rowe long clearance as far as possible downfield led to Jeche challenging for a ball in the air with Roberts which saw Nathan beat the taller man to the ball and send the ball forward running clear of the Bromsgrove captain. His last touch was slightly too heavy and instead of having a good chance of beating the keeper he had to stretch for the ball preventing him from putting any power into the shot which Brown managed to stop with his legs.

There was still time for the game to see one more yellow card as a minute later Bromsgrove played a long ball forward which saw Forsyth and Rowley jump for the ball. Rowley led with his elbow and caught George sending him to the floor. Mr Jackson thought it was only worthy of a yellow.

Still the game continued and Bromsgrove won a free kick just inside their own half. It was the last chance saloon and Brown came up from the back to join the attack. Kelly lifted the ball high into the penalty area and Brown got his head to the ball to nod it forward to Lewthwaite with his back to the ball but there were so many bodies in the box that there was no time for thinking Fifield was involved just getting a foot to the ball before the ball squirted out towards the touchline and Mr Jackson blew a halt to proceedings.

   Full Time: Kettering Town 1  Bromsgrove Sporting 0

A hard-fought win against a very physical team determined to battle both metaphorically and physically and they all possessed the physique to intimidate and impose their will on the smaller Kettering team. Six Bromsgrove players were booked all deserving of their punishment with Stretton lucky not to have seen a second card. Kettering’s defence was resolute prepared to battle to preserve a clean sheet but in truth Bromsgrove struggled to create any clear-cut chances with Paul White only having to make one real save all day.

Kettering created more chances but due to mistakes and misjudgements failed to take them and should have wrapped the game up in the first half. Rory Brown was not tested during the match not having to make any real saves apart from the goal which he should have dealt with.

For the third match running, Stourbridge away and Stratford at home the teams second half performance left something to be desired allowing the opposition to continue believing that there was something to be rescued from the match.

Kettering Town yellow cards: Fatadjo, Panter – fouls Jeche – dissent

Bromsgrove Sporting yellow cards: Flint, Green, Ryley, Lyden, Stretton, Rowley – fouls

Attendance: 945

Kettering Town M-of-the-M selected by The Exiles – Eddie Panter –  Another energy filled display from Eddie with his tireless running causing the opposition defence plenty of problems. He will be disappointed with his first half miss but in the end three points were still won. He is becoming a vital player to the team and his fatigue levels must be monitored as his influence on the team since his arrival means that his absence through injury could severely hamper the team.