Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Monday 25th August  2025   3:00pm

Referee: Robert Pealing     Assistants: James Green and Gavin McFarlane

Kettering would be looking to consolidate their promising start to the season with their second A6 derby of the Bank Holiday weekend, this time, against Harborough Town. Like Saturday’s opponents Real Bedford, Harborough have the benefit of possessing a wealthy benefactor who is willing to bank-roll the club to achieve his dream of owning a successful football club. To this end, the club in the summer signed four players from National League North teams and had the financial clout to lure Barwell’s star forward Brad Hickey and Kettering’s own player of the season Devon Kelly-Evans (‘DKE’) to South Leicestershire. Last season, Harborough took four points off the Poppies in the league. The corresponding fixture home fixture, also played on the August Bank Holiday, saw Harborough whilst under the cosh for eighty-five minutes snatch a draw with a highly questionable penalty in the eighty-ninth minute. The return fixture played on New Year’s Day was a lamentable performance by Kettering who spent almost the entire game providing heading practice for Harborough’s centre-backs. It was the start of a terrible loss of form resulting in a seemingly unassailable position at the top of the league being thrown away causing the team to contest the play-offs. Some revenge was obtained by eliminating Harborough in the play-offs but only after a tense penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes failed to produce a goal. 

Simon Hollyhead made three changes to the XI which started at Bedford with Jamar Loza replacing Leon Lobjoit in a straight swap. Both wingers were changed with Connor Stanley and Eddie Oppong dropping to the bench replaced by Wes York and Kai Fifield the latter starting his first game of the season albeit out of position on the left wing. Levi Andoh returned from injury leaving no place in the match day squad for Fin Corrigan.

Former assistant manager Mitch Austin manages The Bees. Former Kettering captain Connor Kennedy would captain the visitors for the afternoon with Ben Stephens, Paul Malone and DKE  on the Harborough bench.

Unusually for a Bank Holiday Monday, there was a blazing hot sun. Some thin high-level cloud  provided some respite as did a light breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch from the nursery corner.

The afternoon got off to an ominous start when ten minutes before kick-off a call was put out for any doctor in the ground to attend to somebody in the Tin Hat.

Kettering won the toss and elected to defend the Tin Hat leaving Harborough in all yellow to kick-off. The visitors sent the ball back to their keeper Taylor for an early touch and he launched the ball down field. The ball was played down Kettering’s right with Arlott-John chasing. Forsyth matched him step for step and managed to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

Two minutes in and Arlott-John tried an adventurous shot from long distance but cleared the Tin Hat. Kettering responded with a rapid counterattack Barker linked up with Fifield who threaded a pass through to Loza who looked to return the pass to Kai but Arlott-John got in the way putting it behind for a corner on the stand side. The set piece was taken short by Fifield to Loza who danced into the box before driving in a low shot. This was blocked by the foot of Taylor and cleared but only to Thanoj who fired in a low shot which was also blocked and then cleared.

Just before the ten-minute mark, Harborough passed the ball around to win a throw in on the stand side in front of the Gazebo stand. Harborough sent all their big men up into the Kettering penalty area including the 6′ 6” Alex Morris. Right-back Carline delivered a high throw into the box but Ranger got to the ball allowing Kettering to clear the ball. Crowther in the act of clearing the ball was caught late by Newton who along with O’Sullivan were taking every opportunity of niggling the Kettering defenders with late knocks and nudges after the ball was gone. On this occasion, it was spotted by Mr Pealing who awarded a free kick. Two minutes later, Kettering were awarded another free kick deep into Harborough’s half, this time for a foul by O’Sullivan on Loza. Thanoj’s free kick was woefully over hit sailing into the 200 or so Harborough fans behind the goal.

Kettering were patient with the ball happy to pass the ball across their back three retaining possession and looking to pierce the Harborough defence who had all ten players behind the ball. After the quarter hour mark, Glennon played the ball long down the stand side for Fifield to chase. With some trickery, he managed to generate some separation from Carline to send in a cross but it passed over Loza’s head and out for a goal kick.

The goal kick from Taylor was sent down the stand side where it was put out by Glennon enabling Carline to deliver another long throw into Kettering’s penalty area. Two defenders went for the ball but misjudged the bounce and the ball passed over their heads but Thanoj was on hand to clear the ball.

The next minute Harborough set up a good move down Kettering’s right. Hickey flicked the ball forward to Newton who held up the ball giving Hickey to dart forward to receive a return pass. With Crowther and York closing him down, Hickey threaded a great ball through for Newton to run onto outpacing Forsyth. Faced by the massive frame of Alexander the former Brackley forward drove a low hard shot trying to nutmeg the keeper but Jason stood tall and blocked the shot. The first threat on either goal in the match.

Five minutes later, Harborough probed down Kettering’s left through Arlott-John but good covering by Glennon prevented the forward from producing an accurate cross sending the ball out for a goal kick. Before play was restarted, the Referee initiated a drinks break for the players and officiating team.

Shortly after, the restart a clearance from Dolman was fielded by Crowther but his control was poor enabling Newton to steal the ball away from him and move forward before lifting a cross-field ball towards Arlott-John. The Harborough man completely muffed the pass passing him by and going out for a Kettering throw in.

Arlott-John would redeem himself four minutes later. A long ball forward by Dolman was taken on the chest of the forward. He turned and threaded the ball out to Carline on the overlap in plenty of space with time to deliver the ball to the feet of Newton by the penalty spot. He spurned the opportunity of a snapshot and was closed down by Thanoj leaving him the only option of toe poking the ball to the open Arlott-John ten yards square of him. Arlott-John chipped a lovely pass towards the equally open Newton who had time to pick his spot and guide his header from 8 yards out with precision, not power just inside Alexander’s right-hand post giving the keeper no chance of keeping it out.  0-1 Harborough 29 mins

In the next five minutes, the teams exchanged free kicks played into the opponents penalty areas but both were dealt with easily by the defences. Harborough seemed to have settled already for a 1-0 win with O’Sullivan moving into a more defensive role. Kettering had plenty of possession but could not generate any pressure on the visitor’s goal.

As the game entered it’s final minutes of the half, Forsyth played the ball back to Alexander who being closed down rapidly by Newton cleared the ball long downfield. The swiftness of the attack caught Harborough out and Loza was able to run down the seam between two defenders and latch onto the ball taking a first touch attempt to lift it past the advancing Taylor but his first time effort was high and wide.

The next minute, a Harborough attack was halted by Forsyth with a push in the back of Arlott-John. The Kettering captain was  booked for kicking the ball away, the first caution of the game.

In the first of three added minutes, good work from Kettering’s midfield in a move involving York, Thanoj, Lewis and Barker led to Alfie threading the ball through to Fifield behind Arlott-John causing the Harborough to lose his footing but Kai’s shot lacked any power and was straight at Taylor, the keeper’s first save of the match, a very simple one.  Shortly after, good work from Loza close to the corner flag on the open side saw Jamar lift across towards the far post where Ranger was lurking but Taylor cut the ball out with a clean catch over his head.

Half Time: Kettering Town 0  Harborough Town 1

Simon Hollyhead made two changes at half time withdrawing Fifield and the ineffectual Ranger to be replaced by Connor Stanley and Leon Lobjoit.

Inside the first minute of the second half, a ball from Lewis looked to have set Stanley free down the Harborough right but Carline was having none of it cynically cutting down the Kettering man. Mr Pealing awarded a free kick but did not even have a quiet word with the offender.

Five minutes later, Thanoj gave away possession in a dangerous position some 10 yards outside his own penalty area when Arlott-John stole the ball from him. He carried the ball forwards a few paces before loosing off a powerful shot which Alexander could only parry away. Shortly after, it was a case of deja vu when Lewis surrendered possession in a similar position. Arlott-John was the recipitent of the generosity and he fired in another fierce shot which Alexander could only parry away.

Almost ten minutes of the half had been played before the fans in the Tin Hat had anything to make a noise about when Stanley tight on the open touchline got up a head of steam and made to go past Carline but the defender got a touch to concede a corner which came to nothing.

Just before the hour mark, Arlott-John once again broke with pace down Kettering’s left before delivering a measured cross aimed towards the far post where it was met by the head of Hickey. Crowther was on the spot to block the goal bound effort heading the ball behind for a corner on the stand side. The set piece was lifted towards the far post where it was contested by two opponents who both got a head to the ball but it was adjudged the final touch was from the red shirted player giving Harborough a corner from the open side. This corner picked out a Harborough player but he sent his effort high over the bar.

Kettering responded with a corner of their own after Crowther advancing down the right looked to link with York but Putnam cut out the pass by conceding a corner on the stand side. Lobjoit sent in an in swinging corner which Taylor rose well to and cleared with a firm punch but the Referee sounded his whistle awarding a free kick to the keeper for interference when it was the keeper in motion after allowing all sorts of shenanigans to go on in the Kettering penalty area for the Harborough set pieces. A couple of minutes later, Kettering won a corner on the open side when Stanley took on Carline causing the full back to concede another corner. Lobjoit sent in an out swinging corner aimed towards Glennon on the edge of the box. Will rose high but his marker making no attempt to play the ball played the man preventing Glennon from making a clear contact on the ball and Harborough broke quickly up field through Putnam. He covered almost the length of the park before sending a lofty ball across the edge of the penalty area. Stanley had back tracked well and halted the attack winning a throw-in by playing the ball off Arlott-John.

The game witnessed it’s second yellow card after sixty-two minutes when a Kettering attack broke down when Hickey intercepted a poor pass and then went to the ground following the slightest of touches. Thanoj questioned the decision and was promptly booked for dissent.

With sixty-five minutes played a long ball out of Kettering’s defence was aimed towards Lobjoit. The Assistant Referee on the stand side raised his flag for off-side. Before the resulting free kick could be taken, the Assistant Referee called over the Referee to converse and report an incident of racial abuse. Mark Brace, Head of Security, was called over. At one stage it looked like the game would need to be abandoned as the Assistant Referee appeared to be unwilling to continue. Club Owner, George Akhtar, and Director of Football, Fabian Forde, both went over to the Tin Hat to appeal to the fans to behave. After a fifteen-minute delay, the offended official was convinced to continue allowing the game to be completed. The club, after an investigation, will no doubt face a heavy sanction for the actions of an idiot or idiots protected by those in close proximity failing to point out the culprits and thereby damaging the reputation and finances of the team they profess to support.

Before the restart Kettering made another double substitution with Shane Flynn and Eddie Oppong replacing Archie Crowther and Brandon Barker.

Harborough appeared to have handled the break in play better than the Poppies and slack defending allowed Hickey to get in behind the Kettering back line. However,  Alexander spread himself well causing the former Barwell star to put his effort into the side netting when a goal would have killed the game.

Three minutes later, and Harborough forced a corner on the open side. The ball was lifted to the back post where Carline headed the ball down towards the goal only to be denied by a good save low down by Alexander getting down well for such a big man. The resulting corner adequately defended by Kettering and Flynn sent a ball down the open side touch line for Loza to chase. He darted forward with pace with Kennedy at his shoulder. The foot race continued deep into the penalty area where Jamar tumbled to the floor. Despite loud appeals from the patrons of the Tin Hat, the Referee saw nothing to warrant the awarding of a penalty.

Shortly after, Harborough made their first substitution with Jutorre Burgess replacing Arlott-John. They made their second on ninety minutes as the board was raised to show there would be a minimum of seventeen additional minutes to be played with Kelly-Evans replacing Josh Walsh.

Three minutes into added time, Flynn played the ball down the open side for Stanley to run onto. Connor collected the ball and played it inside towards Lobjoit and Loza too close together, to get in each others way. Leon picked the ball up but was unable to get a shot off immediately and was closed down by a defender causing Lobjoit to retreat a couple of yards before turning and sending a floated shot goalwards but it passed over the bar.

Stanley was showing more drive and verve than the rest of the Kettering side put together racing down the open side before delivering a low cross into the box but the bulk of Dolman was dominating the area and he cleared the ball away.

Harborough made another substitution after ninety-seven minutes with Ben Stephens replacing Hickey. Five minutes later, Harborough showed that despite parking the bus they would ignore the chance to attack with Burgess checking that Alexander was still concentrating by firing in a stinging shot which the keeper saved well.

On the hundred-minute mark, Kettering probed down Harborough’s right but ball was played low into the box but Dolman calmly put the ball behind for a corner which came to nothing.

With almost a quarter hour of added time gone Kettering once again attacked down the open side, this time through Flynn. He squared the ball to Loza who touched the ball on to Lobjoit but Kennedy was right onto him to block his first time shot for a corner on the stand side. Before it was taken, Harborough made a final substitution with Burgess who had only come on in the eighty-seventh minute was replaced by James Taylor. The corner was easily cleared as Stephens hacked the ball as far down the pitch as possible being collected by Alexander the only player in Kettering’s half.

With the final whistle approaching Kettering again had success down Harborough’s right through Stanley, Thanoj and Flynn. Shane supplied the final ball into the box to Stanley who tried to curl the ball into the opposite side top corner but his effort floated over the bar.

Kettering had one final chance to snatch at equalizer at the death. Loza floated the ball into the goalmouth from the open side. Lobjoit with his back to the goal touched the ball back to the feet of Lewis. Alfie hit a first time shot which went straight at Taylor who had an easy stop.

Full Time: Kettering Town 0  Harborough Town 1

Another lack lustre display from Kettering remarkably similar in nature to that against Barwell but Harborough are a much more talented side than their Leicestershire neighbours. Once they were in front, they were determined not to let their lead slip playing the second half with a string of five players stretched across the back line with Dolman running the show from it is centre. Kettering did not fall into the trap on mindless high balls which Harborough could have dealt with all day but continued to attack down the left wing keeping the ball on the floor. Unlike the Barwell game, Kettering were not given a route back into the game via the penalty spot and did not show the speed of attack to break the massed ranks of yellow shirted defenders. As in Saturday’s game at Real Bedford, the opponents keeper had a quiet afternoon without being tested by Kettering’s forwards. An improved display is required for Saturday to prevent Long Eaton providing a banana skin outing first time out after last season’s cup exploits.

Kettering Town yellow cards: Forsyth – kicking the ball away Thanoj – dissent. 

Harborough Town yellow cards: none

Attendance: 2091

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – chosen by Rico-Scapes – Nile Ranger –  A performance that was highlighted by his withdrawal at half time by Mr Hollyhead. Much more deserving of the award would have been the whole match performance displayed by Jason Alexander who was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers and prevented an even heavier defeat with several good stops as he did at Bedford 48 hours earlier. Mention must made of Connor Stanley whose second half performance was full of grit and determination producing more penetration than the other three wide men in the game put together. It showed that he is deserving of a starting spot.