MATCH SUMMARY:
A strong Harborough side took the points today in a keenly contested match. All the goals came in the first half with ex Poppy Ben Stephens netting a brace in the 28th and 39th minutes with Kai Fifield equalising the first goal in the 38th minute. The Poppies had the majority of possession in the second half but could not breach the home defence which packed its own half to rely on breaks.
THE TEAMS:
HARBOROUGH TOWN:
1 Elliott Taylor
2 Dan Cooper
3 Josh Walsh
4 Liam Dolman
5 Connor Kennedy (Captain)
6 Alex Morris
7 Freddie Robinson (12 Jutorre Burgess,48; 16 Amar Sandburg,90+5)
8 Ben Starkie
9 Riley O’Sullivan
10 Ben Stephens (14 Dan Forbes,66)
11 Luis Rose (17 Ben Williams,89)
Unused Substitute:
15 Rhys Hilton
:
Yellow Cards: Robinson,46;Burgess,69;
KETTERING TOWN
1 Dan Jezeph
2 Ben Hart
3 Aaron Powell
4 Devon Kelly-Evans (Captain)
9 Nile Ranger (15 Gary Stohrer,73)
10 Terell Pennant (18 Jonathan Edwards,57)
12 Lewis White
14 Harlain Mbayo
17 Luca Miller (16 Isiah Noel-Williams,66)
19 Kai Fifield
20 Cullum Powell
Unused Substitutes:
11 Tyree Wilson
13 Jason Alexander
Yellow card: Miller,13.
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
Following early morning rain, the artificial surface was fine, albeit some of the strong wind remained at the backs of the Bees in the first half.
Kettering had a great chance to open the scoring in the first minute. Kai Fifield opened up the home defence and sent Callum Powell clear down the right. Unfortunately, the shot drifted wide of Elliott Taylor’s right hand and the left post.
Harborough’s first chance came from a long throw into the Kettering six-yard box but any chance was ruined due to a handball. The Bees continued on the front foot and a forceful run from Alex Morris through the visitor’s defence gave Ben Starkie a shot which was deflected into the arms of Dan Jezeph.
Ex Poppy, Connor Kennedy put a shot out of the ground and another ex-Poppy, Ben Stephens fired a direct free kick well over the bar. With the wind at their backs, Harborough were able to continue the pressure and Jezeph did exceptionally well to make a double save from Luis Rose. The resultant corner saw Morris head straight at Jezeph.
As the game progressed into the second quarter of the game, Taylor took Callum Powell’s cross and the striker’s next shot was deflected for a corner. A quick Harbough break saw Stephens force a routine save from Jezeph.
The first goal, on 28 minutes, saw Stephens coolly slot the ball past Jezeph after he had closed down a Lewis White clearance with the ball falling kindly for him.
Harborough Town 1 – 0 Kettering Town (28 minutes)
The Poppies looked out of sorts. New signing Terell Pennant fired tamely wide and the next goal action saw a low Josh Walsh cross from the left which just needed a touch from the stretching Stephens but drifted out for a goal kick.
Kettering equalised out of nowhere on 38 minutes. An attack broke down as Ranger lost possession but the ball was pounced on by Fifield who finished with some aplomb from 16 yards giving Taylor no chance.
Harborough Town 1 – 1 Kettering Town (38 minutes)
Harborough regained the lead in the next minute. Stephens looked arguably in an offside position as he collected a punt forward but allowed to go on, he lobbed Jezeph for a cool finish.
Harborough Town 2 – 1 Kettering Town (39 minutes)
Just before the break, Stephens again was clear as he chased another high pass and looked offside. This time he was foiled by Jezeph who saved well.
Half Time:
Harborough Town 2 – 1 Kettering Town
There were no player changes at half time.
The Poppies started with much more purpose. So much so that just four minutes into the half, Morris headed a Pennant shot off the line. This was followed by Luca Miller firing over the bar after a corner.
Callum Powell got in a low cross from the left and Pennant’s shot was blocked. Then Fifield turned neatly to shoot, but he was wide of the right post. Fifield then won a fruitless corner.
Harborough were getting penned in their own half as they ‘parked the bus’ but on 58 minutes they broke away quickly and Luis Rose collected a loose ball, but the shot was high over the bar. A few minutes more Kettering pressure was resisted by the home defence, and another break by Rose saw Lewis White make a great interception.
The Poppies huffed and puffed but found it hard to break down the nine-man home defence, and in fact, Harborough made two effective breaks with Jezeph saving from Stephens and O’Sullivan firing wide.
Both sides made substitutions and Kettering could have equalised on 75 minutes as Callum Powell advanced down the left, and from an advantageous position, his shot hit the side netting.
Kettering forced Harborough back for the remainder of the second half and six minutes of added time, but they could not find the equaliser. In fact, it was left to Harlain Mbayo to make a great block as Jutorre Burgess went through.
Full Time:
Harborough Town 2 – 1 Kettering Town
Attendance: 1500 (Kettering fans 400)
Referee: Luke Scott; Assistant Referees: Scott Hanna and Sam Anderson
Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Dan Jezeph
FORTHCOMING HOME GAMES:
Saturday January 4th: Halesowen Town at 3pm
Saturday January 11th: Alvechurch at 3pm
Tuesday January 21st: Northampton Town (NFA Hillier Cup) (KO time tbc)
Saturday January 25th: Bromsgrove Sporting at 3pm
Forthcoming Away Games:
Saturday 18th January at Redditch United at 3pm
Tuesday 28th January at Alvechurch at 7.45pm
