Kettering Town v Alvechurch

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Tuesday 4^th March 2025   7:45pm

Referee:  Sam Wesson        Assistants:  Ali Cera and Scot Hanna

Kettering would look to build upon a successful trip on Saturday to Leiston, which thanks to an excellent penalty save from Dan Jezeph, bring three points back to Northamptonshire. It would the first meeting with Alvechurch this season which must constitute some kind of record as the latest initial fixture between two teams in a 22-team league with seven months of the season already played. This game should have been played on 11^th January but fell victim to a frozen pitch. The reverse fixture was scheduled for  November 16^th division but was postponed due to Alvechurch’s continued  participation in the FA Trophy. The rearranged fixture fell foul of the weather due to a waterlogged pitch such that Kettering will travel to Lye Meadow in two weeks time. Last Saturday, Alvechurch slipped to defeat at Bedford thanks to a 92^nd minute penalty for the hosts to maintain their top spot.

Richard Lavery, conscious of trying to manage his resources and nurse players with niggling injuries, changed a winning side. Returning after paternity leave, Wes York was handed the job of leading the line with support on the flanks from Tyree Wilson and Terell Pennant replacing Kai Fifield. Nile Ranger reverted to the bench to rest with a view to the vital 10 remaining games. Joining him on a strong bench would be Kyle Storer, Sam McLintock and the patient Lewis White. Jonny Edwards was still out with a hip injury and the results of Callum Powell’s scan showed that his injury is more serious than first though and may leave him sidelined for the rest of the season. Alvechurch had to make a late change as named starting goalkeeper Ronnie Hollingshead pulled out during the pre-match warm up. Fortunately for Alvechurch, they had Dale Eve on the bench to step in.

After a beautiful day in Burton Latimer, it was a cool, clear and crisp evening with negligible wind. The playing surface looked good with a firm surface which showed no signs of cutting up during the warmup with all players looking sure footed with no signs of slipping.

Kettering kicked off attacking the Tin Hat end with Alvechurch looking very smart in a British racing green strip with gold trim. One criticism was the black numbers which were difficult to ascertain with perhaps the continuation of the gold motif would have served better. Kettering were straight onto the attack and inside the first minute Kettering passed the ball around well before Powell moved the ball forward for York to run onto. Wes controlled the ball just before the byline and looped a cross towards the far post but it eluded any Kettering player going behind for a goal kick with no Alvechurch player touching the ball.

Alvechurch responded two minutes later with some classic route one football. Eve kicked the ball from hand straight down the middle of the park. It was nodded on by Sweeney to be collected by Alvechurch’s top scorer Allen-Hadley who tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the penalty area but sent it wide of the far post.

A minute later, Alvechurch were awarded a free kick some 30 yards from the Kettering goal when Sweeney confronted by Kelly-Evans ran into the Kettering man who could do little about it. Sweeney fired the set-piece into the penalty area and deflected behind for a corner on the stand side. Savkin delivered a perfect ball towards the near post and the towering Crowther darted away from his marker making space for a free header and powered it home from about six yards. 0-1 Alvechurch 6 mins

A  bad start for Kettering got even worse five minutes later when Kelly-Evans pulled up injured after sprinting after chasing a ball out of defence. Devon went to the floor but despite lengthy on-pitch treatment it became apparent that his match was done and he was replaced by Sam McLintock.

Kettering were looking to reply though and just before the quarter hour mark the ball was played forward towards Pennant on the left wing. Terell took on Dyer the right back and twisted his inside and out before cutting inside and delivering a ball into the penalty area from where it was put behind for Kettering’s first corner of the game. Hart’s corner from the open side was poor failing to beat the first man but Kettering retained possession and played the ball back to Hart who tried again. This cross was better and was turner behind for another corner on the open side. Hart once again failed to beat the first man and Alvechurch looked to break but play was broken up with a foul by Wilson.

Seventeen minutes had been played when Alvechurch moved the ball forward to Willis who took a shot from the edge of the penalty area but it did not trouble Jezeph as it rose over the bar. From the resulting goal kick, the ball found York on the halfway line. Wes carried the ball forward before feeding it out diagonally to Wilson. Tyree changed the angle of the attack by pushing the ball inside to Noel-Williams who looked to have got past the central defender but the ball got a little away from Isiah allowing Crowther to reach the ball first and attempt to clear the ball. It was not the best clearance though and went straight to York who had continued his forward run. With the ball at waist height, Wes could only redirect the ball towards goal with little power allowing Eve to collect the ball.

Kettering kept up the pressure, and in the following minute, Noel-Williams collected a ball out from defence in midfield and ran with purpose down the centre of the pitch before playing the ball to his left to Pennant. Terell got the ball tangled under his feet but managed to dig it out and force a corner on the open side. The corner was partially cleared but Kettering retained possession and recycled it back to Hart who did well to avoid being crowded out by a pair of defenders and turn the ball inside to Pennant. Shaping up to shoot, a challenge from behind by Crowther caused Terell to go to the floor but Mr Wesson considered no foul had been committed. The ball however, broke to Noel-Williams who touched the ball into the penalty area. Dyer the right back made a panicked clearance and sent the ball directly to Pennant, who had regained his feet some half dozen yards away. Terell hit a snapshot which was blocked behind by Crowther for an unproductive corner.

Half an hour had been played when Alvechurch were awarded a corner on the stand side on a rare probe into Kettering territory. The ball is cleared by the defence but only back to the corner taker who sends in a good cross which Jezeph cleared from immediate danger with a strong punch putting it out for a throw-in. Sephton’s long throw into the box was dealt with by the defence.

As the half entered the final five minutes of regulation time Johnson played a diagonal ball long for York to chase on the open side. Wes took possession and turned the ball back to Pennant on the corner of the penalty area. Terell was immediately closed down by Dwyer but a jink by the Kettering made himself some space inside. A second defender was drawn to the ball and Terell performed an identical jink to once again generated an opportunity to shoot but unfortunately the shot was straight at Eve for a simple catch at his near post. Two minutes later, Kettering were pressing once again. Excellent work from Wilson probed down the right wing before feeding inside to Thanoj who sent the ball high over the Tin Hat.

In the final minute of normal time, Noel-Williams was carrying forward once again going past two players he had just gone by a third on the edge of the penalty area when he was brought down by Willis. Isiah needed treatment, and while he was receiving it, Willis received the first booking of the game. The free kick was swung in towards Gudger but Eve in the Alvechurch goal was equal to it punching the ball away as it bounced in front of him.

Two additional minutes were played generated by the injury to Kelly-Evans before the half time whistle.

  Half Time: Kettering Town  0  Alvechurch  1

Needing to turn the game around, Richard Lavery made one change at half time with Kai Fifield replacing Tyree Wilson in a straight swap.

Kettering, knowing what was required, won a corner two minutes into the second half on the open side. An out-swinger from Hart once again failed to beat the first man who won a free kick going to ground under pressure from Johnson.

Two minutes later, Noel-Williams pushed the ball through for Fifield but Kai’s initial touch was not his best, but the ball broke back to Isiah who was promptly brought down again with another foul. Before the free kick was taken, the referee had to hold up play as the level of pushing between the two captains, Johnson and Pearce, which was threatening to spill over so Mr Wesson took the pot off the boil. The resulting free kick when it was taken though came to nothing.

On fifty-three minutes, Fifield was on the cusp of beating the Alvechurch back line when he was brought down on the edge of the penalty area. The set piece this time is taken by Kai and is actually delivered into the penalty area but Gudger was beaten to the ball at is cleared by the defence. The ball comes straight back and Fifield and Noel-Williams are causing panic in the Alvechurch penalty area but neither Kettering man can get a clean strike on the ball as the defence scramble the ball away. It was only temporary though and the ball came forward once more to Noel-Williams, who, once again is brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Willis who was booked in the first half for a similar offence. Mr Wesson shows leniency though and the Alvechurch man stays on the pitch. The free kick was taken by Thanoj who delivered a perfect ball towards the back post where York had got away from Howell his marker to power home a header giving Eve no chance. 1-1 Kettering 55 mins

Kettering were looking to push on for the three points but play was held up after an altercation between Johnson and Sweeney right in front of the dug outs which left Connor on the floor. Mr Wesson was quickly on the spot and calmed the situation without resorting to any cards. Play restarted with a throw into Alvechurch which was followed shortly after by a free kick with Thanoj the guilty party. The set piece was lifted into Kettering’s penalty area but was header away by Gudger and then hooked on it is way by Fifield. York who had been Kettering’s sole player up-field picked out Noel-Williams charging down the open side. Isiah managed to get past his man and send over a cross. Pennant received the ball and tried to curl a ball into the opposite corner but the ball flew wide but it must have taken a deflection on the way as a corner on the open side was awarded. The corner was taken short to Fifield but Kai’s ball into the box was poor and easily cleared by the defence. Powell the covering Kettering defender collected the ball but was fouled by Allen-Hadley to give Kettering another opportunity to put pressure on the visitor’s defence. Before the kick was taken, Kyle Storer came on to replace Terell Pennant who exited the pitch on the stand side and hobbled around the perimeter back to the dugout.

With thirty minutes to go, Alvechurch won a corner but the ball travelled across the penalty area untouched to be cleared by Kettering. Five minutes later, Alvechurch were on the attack again through Savkin. He played a measured ball into the feet of Allen-Hadley who controlled the ball before slipping it outside to Sweeney whose shot from the edge of the box flew narrowly over the bar. It was a case of anything you can do as from the goal kick the ball was transferred to the other end with McLintock swapping passes with team mates to set up a shooting opportunity for Sam but his shot likewise passed over the bar.

On sixty-eight minutes, a free kick sailed into a crowded Kettering penalty area. York was alert to his defensive duties and headed it behind for a corner on the stand side. The corner was defended well and resulted in a goal kick to the home side. Before the restart, Tim Flowers made his first change for Alvechurch with Kieran Wakefield replacing Finn Howell.

With the game remaining level, Alvechurch were still looking to counterattack when the chance arose but Kettering’s defence were carrying on the excellent work from the weekend snuffing out Alvechurch’s attacks early doors.

With seventy-three minutes on the clock, Kettering looked to attack down the open side through Fifield. Kai moved forward and then cut to his left to move past the left back. He was past the defender, but Sephton chose to play the man and not the ball, bringing the Kettering man down. Fifield needed treatment and such was Mr Wesson’s concern that he called over the Alvechurch physio to assist Michael Hunter. The free kick from the corner of the penalty area was swung in by Thanoj but was headed by a defender before another green shirt hooked the ball downfield. Hart picked the ball up roughly on the centre spot and played a diagonal ball aimed towards the open side corner flag. Johnson who had been up for the free kick was the unlikely winger but Connor ran onto the ball and hit a low first-time cross parallel to the byline. The keeper Eve was waiting to collect the ball but it did not reach him as Noel-Williams darted in from nowhere and toed the ball home. 2-1 Kettering 76 mins.

Alvechurch responded by making a second change with top scorer Allen-Hadley making way for Bradley Stretton. Play was switching from end-to-end as a probe down Kettering’s left led to a dangerous low cross by Stretton found only a red shirt who cleared the ball to McLintock. Sam pivoted and fed the ball to Noel-Williams the only Kettering player up field. Isiah took on Peace the Alvechurch captain and ran the ball deep into the opponent’s half with the defender struggling to keep up and resorting to trying to pull back the live wire. York set Noel-Williams free and his low cross aimed towards Fifield in the penalty area was, fortunately for the visitors, touched by Dwyer just enough to send the ball away from Kai.

Alvechurch made a third and final substitution on eighty-three minutes with Callum Sullivan making way for Shay Willock. Shortly after, Kettering won a corner on the stand side but as the ball came over from Hart a free kick was awarded for a foul on Eve. McLintock earned himself a booking for kicking the ball away despite a plethora of persistent fouls by the visitors not being penalised.

With nothing to lose Alvechurch committed players forward in order to salvage something from the game. Inside the penultimate minute, Alvechurch were caught out pushing up. Savkin played a free kick square to a teammate some 10 yards inside Kettering’s half. He was too casual though and Noel-Williams darted in and robbed the ball from him. The Alvechurch player obviously wanted a foul and just lay face down on the pitch as Isiah sprinted into Alvechurch’s half with just the keeper to beat. McLintock was racing forward to Isiah’s left leaving Eve outnumbered 2 to 1. The keeper advanced to the edge of his penalty area and stood his ground as Noel-Williams tried to slip the ball to his left to McLintock. It was a terrible ball though behind Sam who had to check his run and retrace his steps by which time Savkin had chased back and effected a clearance. Without the killer goal the Kettering fans would have to endure a further four extra minutes of additional time. Kettering played the remaining time in the Alvechurch half retaining possession preventing the visitors from having the chance to snatch a dramatic injury time equaliser.

   Full Time: Kettering Town  2  Alvechurch  1

A come from behind win to keep Kettering’s title hopes alive. After a disappointing first half, conceding an early goal, Kettering showed promise but did not test Alvechurch’s substitute keeper. The half time team talk obviously did the trick with a much improved second half performance. Kettering leapfrog Telford into second place trailing Bedford by two points with two games in hand. The team’s fate is still in their own hands. Of some concern is the injury to Devon Kelly-Evans such an influential player over the season. Terell Pennant appeared to be hobbling on leaving the pitch. Hopefully, Kettering’s final finishing place will be determined on the football pitch and not in the treatment room.

Kettering Town yellow cards:  McLintock – kicking ball away                     

Alvechurch yellow cards:  Willis – foul                                                  

Attendance: 859

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Isiah Noel-Williams –  Adding to his two goals from Saturday, Isiah earned his team another three points. A dominant force in the game, and like many times this season, the opposition struggled to contain him and resort to fouling him in an attempt to slow him down. He is so strong on the ball showing real grit and determination to retain possession and hurt the opposition with the ball and not his feet. Each game he appears to take a lot of punishment with little protection from the match officials. While running with the ball he never appears to be in total control but this serves to confound the defenders as they cannot predict what is going to happen or where Isiah is going. Opposing manager Tim Flowers was full of praise for the Kettering man in his post match interview. Isiah is the “Kettering Cobra” striking in a flash while defenders and keepers seem to be in slow motion, just watching the ball and he is deadly inside the six-yard box tucking the ball away. Mention must be made of Kai Fifield coming back from injury his introduction at half time appeared to add an extra dimension to Kettering going forward. Hopefully, he can stay healthy for the rest of the season and give opposing defences headaches trying to watch and contain both Isiah and Kai.