Match Report Bedford Town vs KTFC 21 February 2025

MATCH SUMMARY:

It is goals that count. The Poppies had the vast majority of possession in this game and scored one goal. The Eagles had five notable chances, scored three, hit the bar and had one brilliantly saved by Dan Jezeph. Ex Poppy Bruno Andrade scored two goals in just over a minute in the 6th and 7th minutes and Bedford were three up by the 49th minute through Leon Lobjoit. Devon Kelly-Evans pulled one back for Kettering on 57 minutes, but despite constant pressure and Bedford being reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute, which was the end of the scoring.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

The squad was unchanged from the win at Stourbridge.

BEDFORD TOWN:
1 Jameson Horlick
2 Jack Davies
3 Sam Brown
4 Harlain Mbayo
5 Carl Mensah
6 Lewis Green
7 Lewis Hilliard (14 Huw Dawson,86)
8 Ed Gyamfi (16 Harrison Bradney,90+6)
9 Bruno Andrade (12 Elliot Simmons,61)
10 Leon Lobjoit
11 Ryan Blake

Unused Substitutes:
15 Scott Thomas
17 Chase Medwynter

Yellow Cards: Mensah,41 & 76 = Red Card,76

KETTERING TOWN:

1 Dan Jezeph
2 Ben Hart (7 Wes York,72)
3 Aaron Powell (15 Kyle Storer,82)
4 Devon Kelly-Evans
5 Connor Johnson (Captain)
6 Alex Gudger
8 Andi Thanoj
9 Nile Ranger
10 Terell Pennant (14 Sam McLintock,46)
11 Tyree Wilson
16 Isiah Noel-Williams (18 Jonny Edwards,50)

Unused Substitute:
12 Lewis White

Yellow Cards: Hart,7;Johnson,73.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

It was a breezy and wet night on the 3G pitch which was somewhat slippery in the early stages as players occasionally lost their footing. Bedford included 3 ex Kettering players in their squad, one of whom was to have an early impact.

The initial exchanges saw a second minute home free kick cleared away and for the visitors. There was a chance for Terell Pennant but he lost control of the ball as he shaped to shoot.

The game sprang to life in the 6th minute. Bruno Andrade got the better of Connor Johnson and lashed his shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Bedford Town 1 – 0 Kettering Town (6 minutes)

Worse followed for Kettering as, from the kick off, a Kettering attack was stopped with a clear foul near the home penalty area. With no whistle forthcoming, the Eagles broke away, with Andrade skipping past Johnson to easily beat the stranded Dan Jezeph. Ben Hart was cautioned for his protest.

Bedford Town 2 – 0 Kettering Town (7 minutes)

The Eagles were employing long throw-ins into the visitors 6-yard box through Sam Brown and on 12 minutes Lewis Green had a half chance as he fired over from a part clearance.

The Poppies had a great chance to score on 16 minutes as Alex Gudger headed across goal from a corner but Isiah Noel-Williams scooped the ball over the bar from close in. Pennant saw a shot come off a defender and Aaron Powell’s low left foot shot was taken by the diving Jameson Horlick.

The Poppies had a real shout for a penalty on 28 minutes. Hart’s free kick found its was to Nile Ranger who fired just wide as he was taken out by a defender. His call for a penalty tells on deaf ears.

A now rare Bedford foray forward saw Jezeph clearing from Lewis Hilliard and the Poppies were piling forward in search of a goal, forcing some fruitless corners. Andi Thanoj’s 36th minute free kick deflected off of the defensive wall for a corner. From this Hart saw his shot saved by Horlick.

Hart then tried his luck with another free kick but his shot sailed over the bar. As half time approached, Andrade had a half chance, which he squandered and for Kettering, Pennant’s shot was saved by Horlick and a late Kettering corner was hastily cleared.

Half Time:

Bedford Town 2 – 0 Kettering Town

Sam McLintock replaced Pennant at the start of the half.

Tyree Wilson made an early charge down the left and his low cross went begging. However, just four minutes into the half, the Eagles increased their lead. The ball was lost in midfield and played through to Leon Lobjoit in oceans of space and his shot was clinical past Jezeph.

Bedford Town 3 – 0 Kettering Town (49 minutes)

The large Kettering following was stunned. But the Poppies had to come forward and for the most part were to dominate the remaining part of the game.

Hart’s cross was too close to Horlick, but the same player set up a great chance for McLintock but his shot was wide of the target.

Kettering scored on 57 minutes. A neat one-two between Kelly-Evans and McLintock saw Kelly-Evans sweep the ball past Horlick.

Bedford Town 3 – 1 Kettering Town (57 minutes)

The rest of the game saw Kettering largely camped in the Bedford half. Jonny Edwards had replaced Noel-Williams just after the third Bedford goal and he got a low cross in from the left which beat everyone.

A now rare Bedford attack saw Ryan Blake rattle the crossbar from the corner of the penalty area. However, the last 30 minutes of this game were to be spent in the Bedford half.

With the defensive wall lining up about eight yards from a Ben Hart direct free kick, his shot got through to be saved by Horlick with no Kettering player there to attack the loose ball.

Ben Hart looked to have sustained a nasty leg injury on 72 minutes, as the Referee inexplicably allowed play to continue with the player in agony. Hart was replaced by Wes York.

Constant Kettering possession and pressure saw the home defence react well until Carl Mensah was sent off for a second caution on 76 minutes. From the resultant Edwards direct free kick (with the defensive wall still allowed to be 8 yards away…..) the wall did its job and, from the subsequent corner, McLintock had a chance but fired badly wide.

Another Wilson dangerous cross from the left went begging and a break by Bedford saw Jezeph make a really good save from Blake, as both Blake and Kettering substitute Kyle Stohrer, clashed in the tackle.

There were 10 minutes added time.

The Poppies laid siege to the Bedford goal and the 10 men fought well. Ranger headed over a York cross; Storer saw his free kick saved by Horlick; Horlick saved well from Gudger and finally Storer fired wide when off balance.

The Poppies and their fans were disappointed but overall, the Eagles deserved their win.

Full Time:

Bedford Town 3 – 0 Kettering Town

Attendance: 1973 (Kettering fans estimated at 600+)

Referee: Christopher Darling; Assistant Referees: Ceredig Cattanach-Chell and Rhys Taylor

Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Devon Kelly-Evans

FORTHCOMING HOME MATCHES:

Tuesday February 25th: Halesowen Town at 7.45pm

Tuesday March 4th: Alvechurch FC at 7.45pm

Saturday March 8th: St Ives Town at 3pm

Saturday March 22nd: AFC Telford United at 3pm

Forthcoming Away Matches: