Away Draw at Lowestoft

Match Report Lowestoft 150325 | Kettering Town FC

MATCH SUMMARY:

The scoreline reflects the game. The overall quality on show was poor as the teams finished level with few goalmouth incidents. A hard surface and a firm breeze did not help, and in the final analysis, Lowestoft would have been happier with the result.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

Ben Hart was serving the first of his two-match suspension. Tyree Wilson, Devon Kelly-Evans and Callum Powell were all injured leaving the Poppies with only four substitutes. New signing Fin Wilkinson, on loan from Barnet, started, as did Jonny Edwards and a second new signing, Cyrus Babaie was on the bench.

THE TEAMS:

Lowestoft Town:
1 Ben Self
2 Charlie Norman
3 Dylan Ruffles (12 Josh Lewis,64)
4 Louis McIntosh
5 Travis Cole (Captain)
6 Jesse Ayoola
7 Joe Duffy (14 Ben Haddock,90+3)
8 Sam Johnson
9 Joao Rangel(15 Gabe Overton,90)
10 Harvey Sayer
11 Kyle Haylock

Unused Substitutes:
13 Ronnie Yeo
16 Sam Howell

Yellow Cards: Duffy,11; Rangel,90.

KETTERING TOWN:

1 Dan Jezeph
3 Aaron Powell
5 Connor Johnson (Captain)
6 Alex Gudger
7 Wes York
8 Andi Thanoj (10 Terrell Pennant,67)
14 Sam McLintock
15 Kyle Storer
16 Fin Wilkinson (12 Lewis White,90)
18 Jonny Edwards
19 Kai Fifield

Unused Substitutes:
9 Nile Ranger
20 Cyrus Babaie

Yellow Cards: Johnson,38;Powell,54;McLintock,65

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

The Trawlerboys started with the benefit of the breeze down the pitch on a sunny and cold afternoon. They were the first to show, forcing an early corner, which came to nothing.

Kettering’s first chance fell to Jonny Edwards in the 8th minute as he took a pass from Andi Thanoj but the left foot shot was blocked. Kettering keeper, Dan Jezeph did well to get down to save from Sam Johnson and after a great move down the right, Kai Fifield saw his threatening cross brilliantly headed away.

Both teams were having trouble controlling the ball on the hard surface and this meant the quality was just not there, and as the game passed the quarter mark, there was little threat to either goalkeeper.

Andi Thanoj tried a shot which skewed away for a throw in and the same player then lost the ball in his own half giving Sam Johnson a half chance but the shot was an easy collection for Jezeph.

It really was a messy game and although Lowestoft had some good moments, they failed to trouble Jezeph. In fact, it was their own debut keeper, Ben Self, who had to race out to clear from Sam McLintock in the 32nd minute.

Kettering had a great chance two minutes later as Kyle Storer’s free kick fell to Kai Fifield, who looked certain to score. However, as he stabbed the ball goalwards, it seemed to be deflected wide, albeit the Referee gave a goal kick.

Lowestoft benefited from three free kicks, all pumped into the penalty area and, from the last, the ball was cleared to Kyle Haylock who had a great chance but blasted his shot just wide.

Right on half time the Poppies had a great chance following a three man move. Kai Fifield was clear on goal centrally with only Self to beat but the shot was high over the bar.

Half Time:

Lowestoft Town 0 – 0 Kettering Town

There were no half time substitutions.

Kettering were now playing with the wind at their backs, but there was a lack of threat from either team in the first quarter of an hour of the half.

The home side again had the benefit of a number of free kicks, none of which produced anything. The first effort of note in the half came from Fifield who drifted in from the right to stroke a left foot shot over the bar.

Terrell Pennant replaced Thanoj on 67 minutes as Kettering explored more attacking options.

A yellow card was shown to the Kettering bench in the 70th minute at the request of the Assistant Referee as frustration took hold.

In the next minute, at a Kettering corner, there was panic in the home defence as Self lost the ball at a set piece but his defence cleared the loose ball.

Kettering were dominating the game now but failing to penetrate the home defences. Edwards had a shot blocked from a Stored free kick and then Wilkinson put his shot out of the ground.

Into the final 15 minutes, Kettering were camped in the Lowestoft half and in a rare home break, leading scorer Harvey Sayer, fired wide of the left post. Sawyer also saw a low left foot shot saved by Jezeph.

Wes York was moved forward as Lewis White replaced Wilkinson and he had a chance late on but shot wide of the left upright.

As usual the Kettering fans applauded the team, but the home team would have been happy to get this point in their quest to avoid relegation.

Full Time:

Lowestoft Town 0 – 0 Kettering Town

Attendance: 610 (Kettering fans estimated at 150)

Referee: Ashley Tyne; Assistant Referees: Jordan Sandwell
and Kye Mccourt-Hall

Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Wes York

FORTHCOMING HOME MATCHES:

Saturday March 22nd: AFC Telford United at 3pm

Saturday April 5th: Hitchin Town at 3pm

Saturday April 19th: Royston Town FC at 3pm

Saturday April 26th: Banbury United FC at 3pm