Kettering Town v Stratford Town

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Tuesday 3rd March 2026  19:45

Referee:  Gareth Davies              Assistants: Gary Lord and Henry Saxton

 After a 73-day break caused by the incessant rain experienced since Christmas, and with match-day takings contributing a huge percentage of the club’s income, the return of football to Latimer Park will be of great relief to the finances of the club. To put it into context, the gap between last season’s play off defeat to Telford and the first pre-season friendly at Huntingdon was only 61 days. This evening’s game should have been played on January 3^rd.

The playing staff have responded well producing some good performances away from home earning 10 points from the last four away trips leaving the team handily placed in the league table with games in hand for a challenge for the play-off places.

Liam McDonald made a few changes to the side which earned a point at Stourbridge on Saturday. The main one being the return of Paul White in goal after recovering from the horrible arm fracture sustained in the closing minutes of the game at Royston on the first day of the season. Jason Alexander would have the chance to try and recover himself from the injuries that he has been carrying himself in the last weeks. The defensive back three would be unchanged but wholesale changes were made in midfield with Andi Thanoj, Wes York and Ismael Fatadjo would revert to the bench. Taking their places in the starting XI would be Kai Williams and Kai Fifield either side of Eddie Panter giving a very attacking 3-4-3 formation, and William Van Lier making his home debut after coming on at Stourbridge. With a string of two matches a week coming up a system of squad rotation to keep players healthy will be essential to keep what is a small squad free from fatigue and injury. Callum Powell returns to the squad with loanee Bodi Thistleton missing out. With home supporters possibly having the first chance to see Nathan Jeche in action after some promising performances away from Latimer Park.

Stratford currently sit in thirteenth place just below Kettering, level on points but having played two games more. They come into the game having won but a single point out of a possible 15 from their last five games earning a creditable draw at current form team Banbury. However, their opponents included  Harborough, Bedford and Worcester. Two former Poppies would line up for Stratford Harry Reilly and Lamine Sherif.

Stratford Town in dark green/blue shirts and white shorts won the toss and elected to switch ends giving Kettering the kick off attacking the Tin Hat.

Stratford started well as both teams measured each other up and the visitors looked dangerous in the third minute when Forsyth scuffed a clearance straight to an opponent who advanced towards the Kettering penalty area. Rowe, however, faced up to the attacker and shut the move down.

Three minutes later, Stratford were on the attack with the ball played forward towards James who turned inside Forsyth and advanced inside the Kettering penalty area but a good covering tackle by Isaacson just as James was about to shoot sent the ball out for a throw in close to the corner flag by the turnstiles. Olofinjana sent a long throw into the goalmouth where after a couple of touches by Stratford players fell to Morris, who failed to get any power into his shot as he forced the ball goalwards only to be denied by a good close range save by Paul White who blocked the ball with his legs.

Shortly after Stratford were on the attack again with James carrying the ball forward from the half-way strolling his way through the Kettering defence before firing a low shot aimed at the far post which White, diving full stretch to his right, stopped the ball. Rowe cleared the loose ball away but it was picked up by Reilly who sent in a follow up low shot towards the opposite post. The ball was going wide but Isaacson near the post played safe and put the ball behind for the game’s first corner. The corner was headed well clear by the defence towards James mid-way inside Kettering’s half but he misjudged the bounce of the ball and then attempted to nod the ball backwards to where he assumed a covering defender would be but the ball only went to Fifield who initiated a quick counterattack by Kettering. Kai played the ball forward to his right for the fast-arriving Panter to run onto. Eddie collected the ball some 10 yards from the penalty area but was shadowed by Reilly who guided the forward away from a direct route to goal. On reaching the penalty area Panter tried a shot but it lacked power and was easily collected by Weaver.

This first attack from Kettering changed the nature of the game as for the first ten minutes Stratford had looked the dominant side but now the balance swung in Kettering’s favour as the hosts took control.

Twelve minutes had been played when Fifield looking to make the most of his opportunity to start took on the right-back and managed to win Kettering’s first corner to be taken on the open side. The set piece was taken short to Lewis who lifted the ball into the area from a different angle but it was deflected behind for another corner which was cleared by the visitors.

Kettering won a series of corners over the next ten minutes but with Stratford holding a height advantage inside the goalmouth the hosts were at a distinct disadvantage in regard to aerial challenges inside the penalty area. 

Just before the half hour mark, Rowe delivered a long throw into the Stratford penalty area from the open side. The ball was partially cleared by Stratford but was collected by Williams in a central position some 10 yards outside the penalty area. He was covered by Sherif and Kai carried the ball out towards the touchline in order to try to make progress. The forward managed to get some separation from the defender and managed to round him and drive into the penalty area. As Williams was passing Sherif contact was made causing Kai to stumble but he maintained his balance to get to the by-line but his centre was blocked behind for a corner on the stand side. One wonders, that if Williams had gone down would a penalty have been awarded as contact was definitely made. Coyle’s corner was put behind for another corner on the same side. Coyle’s inswinger into the middle of the goal was helped on it’s way by a flick of the hand by Weaver out towards the far touchline. It was chased by Panter who turned it back in towards the penalty spot where Bitemo was waiting but Ison cut it out. Lewis took possession on the edge of the penalty area but with a host of Stratford players between him and the goal laid the ball off to his right where Coyle had arrived from the corner flag. Lewis drove a fierce low shot goalwards but Roberts diving at the ball connected with his head sending the ball at Lafferty on the goal-line. Weaver flung himself to his left to try to stop the ball but it hit Lafferty in his midriff and bounced to the alert Bitemo who sent the ball into the empty net with Weaver on the floor and Lafferty bent over, winded from the initial block. 1-0 Kettering 30 mins

Three minutes later Kettering doubled their advantage. Lewis on the stand side looked to make a cross-field pass to Coyle on the halfway line. It was a telegraphed pass and Lafferty looked like he would easily intercept it. Isaacson had other thoughts though and stepped out of defence to cut the ball out before it reached the Stratford player. Ben played the ball forward to Panter and continued his forward run as Eddie looped the ball up into the air towards the edge of the penalty area. Rowe took the pace off the ball and touched it to the advancing Isaacson. Confronted by Olofinjana, Ben feinted a shot which was bitten on by the defender allowing the Kettering man to send a low shot towards the post. Weaver dove to his right and managed to get a hand to the ball but not enough to stop the ball from rolling home. 2-0 Kettering 33 mins

Stratford quickly had a chance to respond when they were awarded a free kick 10 yards outside of Kettering’s penalty area giving a chance to utilise their height advantage at the opposite end of the pitch. The ball was delivered towards the near post where it was flicked on but no forward was close to the ball and it passed harmlessly wide of the far post. Almost straight after White was called into action when Lafferty carried the ball forward before firing in a shot which Paul chested away from goal rather than attempt catching it.

Kettering were not sitting back waiting for Stratford to attack and White initiated a quick Kettering attack throwing the ball out to Williams who threaded a ball through for Panter to run onto but once again Eddie was driven wide by the keeper from where ball across back into the middle only found the side netting,

The game received it’s first yellow card after forty-one minutes when Stratford were on the attack. James pushed the ball past a defender but on realising he’d pushed it too far lifted both his feet and tumbled to the floor. The dive fooled no-one, least of all Mr Davies, who was perfectly positioned to see the offence and cautioned him for simulation.

In the final minute of normal time Fifield broke down the open side, take on his marker, but Morris tried to cut out the cross sliding in an attempt to cut out the cross diverted the ball into the hands-off Weaver ahead of Panter. Two additional minutes would be added at the end of the regulation forty-five but produced no further action.

  Half Time: Kettering Town 2  Stratford Town 0

At half time Stratford made a single change with Austin Samuels replacing Lamine Sherif.

Kettering had the first chance of the second half when a clearance from Isaacson  reached Panter inside his own half who that carried the ball forward alongside Brennan. Brennan managed to get a foot in before Eddie got away from him causing both players to go to the floor. Williams racing forward in support picked up the loose ball and carried on bearing down on the Stratford goal. Once in range Kai sent in a stinging shot which Weaver could only parry up into the air but was helpless as the ball curled over his head heading for the net. Lafferty however, had tracked back and with Fifield and Panter looking on for a simple tap in watched the defender turn the ball over the bar for a corner which came to nothing.

Five minutes into the half and Samuels made his first contribution to the action. A long ball forward from Stratford was running through for White to collect on the very edge of his penalty area. Moments after collecting the ball in his hands the Stratford forward arrived as a very close second but second nevertheless and clattered White sending him to the floor. The Referee awarded Kettering a free kick but did not even have a word with the offender let alone shown a card.

Just over ten minutes had been played of the second half when Rowe carried the ball forward from the half-way line. With defenders backing off of him he carried on his run before unleashing a shot from 20 yards. The ball skipped off the surface just before it reached Weaver who was thankful to just turn the ball around his right-hand post for a corner. The keeper was slow to his feet having look to have twisted his knee in making the save. The corner came to nothing but a second corner shortly after from the stand side was plucked out of the air by Weaver who was still troubled by his knee and went to the floor requiring treatment.

With twenty-five minutes to go Stratford made their second substitution with Ashley Sammons coming on to replace Joshua Toluwaloju.

Stratford had not thrown the towel in and five minutes later a foul on Sammons left to Brennan lifting a dangerous ball into the Kettering penalty area. It was nodded towards goal and with the ball looking to drop just in front of White, with Samuels looking to latch onto the ball Van Lier darted in front of the forward to clear the ball away and steal the chance away.

On seventy minutes there was a plethora of substitutions with Ish Fatadjo and Andi Thanoj coming on replacing Kai Williams and William Van Lier while Stratford swapped Max Lott for Harry Reilly.

Thanoj’s first contribution shortly after coming on was a misplaced pass which led to a Stratford attack which resulted in James teeing up a shot for Morris which was blocked behind by Isaacson for a corner. The corner was a poor one not beating the man on the front post but bouncing off him to give the Stratford man a chance to provide a better set piece. This time the corner was hit long to the far post but only for White to collect the ball over his head.

With a little over a quarter of an hour to play Fifield robbed Morris of the ball just inside the Stratford half and played the ball forward to Panter who broke for goal. He was stopped just outside the centre circle by being brought down for a free- kick. The fast-thinking Lewis took the kick quickly chipping the ball into the path of the swiftly arriving Bitemo. The only Stratford player alert to the danger was Weaver who advanced off his line to challenge Preston. The youngster tried to lift the ball over the keeper which he managed to do but also sent the ball over the bar.

Before the restart Stratford made their final substitution withdrawing top scorer Owen James to be replaced by Henry Landers. From the goal-kick Stratford moved the ball downfield resulting in an angled shot from Landers. White got down sharply to his right and stopped the ball with his palm but with Samuels looking to pounce on the loose ball Isaacson was on the spot to clear the ball away. White got up gingerly looking to be in some pain with a hip or back issue.

At the next break of play while Kettering made another substitution bringing on Wes York for Kai Fifield, Paul went to the ground necessitating Michael Hunter coming onto the pitch to offer treatment.

The game was over as a contest with both teams going through the motions with their thoughts turning to Saturday’s game.

In the final ten minutes, Bitemo carried the ball forward from the half-way line playing a nice 1-2 with Panter which led to Preston sending a dangerous ball into Stratford’s penalty area which was put behind for a corner on the open side. Coyle took the set piece short to Rowe who neatly wrong footed two defenders to enable himself to put a tantalising low cross in, which traversed across the face of the goal at knee high about 5 yards out. No forward was on hand to apply a finishing touch as the ball went out for a throw in on the opposite side of the pitch.

With four minutes to go Eddie Panter’s evening’s work was finished making way for Nathan Jeche’s Latimer Park debut.

There would be eight additional minutes to be played at the end of the ninety minutes due to the steady flow of substitutions and injuries to both keepers requiring treatment. The first action of the added time would be the replacement of Alfie Lewis with Callum Powell.

The final action of the game saw Stratford probe down Kettering’s right. Brennan lifted a ball into the middle of Kettering’s penalty area picking out the unmarked Samuels. The forward misjudged the flight of the ball and mistimed his flicked header sending the ball well wide of the goal when any decent contact would have severely tested White in the Kettering goal. Before the resulting goal-kick could be taken the final whistle sounded.

   Full Time: Kettering Town 2  Stratford Town 0

An efficient performance from the Poppies on their welcome return to LP. A slow start which saw the visitors take charge for the opening minutes but once the team got into their groove control the game. Two goals up at half time the team controlled the second half playing within themselves and preventing the visitors from believing that there was a way back into the game by a smothering and committed defence keeping a clean sheet.

Kettering Town yellow cards: none

Stratford Town yellow cards: James – simulation

Attendance: 745

Kettering Town M-of-the-M selected by Concept Flooring – Lewis Coyle–  Completing a good week for the experienced player showing why the club had him join the club full time until the end of the season after being on extended loan from Bedford. With a host of younger players around him he will be a valuable addition to the squad with the quick turn around of games as the club completes a busy period of rescheduled matches. Tonight, he provided the club exactly what it requires a solid mistake performance steadying the side from midfield and managing the game. Having taken a knock just before half time causing some concern amongst the fans at him hobbling, he stuck to the task and completed a full 90 minutes.