Match Report KTFC v Bedford Town 16 Nov 2024

Kettering Town v Bedford Town

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 16th November 2024 3:00pm

Referee: Sam Wesson              Assistants: Daniel Heywood and Scott Hanna

After back-to-back 3-1 wins against teams in the play-off positions, Kettering would be looking to continue with the same form. Today’s match is a re-arranged date bringing forward the fixture which was scheduled in February due to both teams having a free weekend as a result of eliminated from the FA Trophy. With the Second Round FA Cup tie clashing with the away fixture at Bedford on 30^th November, fortune has provided a simple remedy to any potential fixture backlog. With second placed Halesowen playing in the Trophy, this game represented the match in hand that Kettering held over them and would be hoping to extend the three-point gap. Bedford on current form are a chalk or cheese team winning three games and losing three in their last six winning at Stamford but falling to a 3-0 home defeat to St Ives.

Richard Lavery made two changes to the side that started at Telford. Luca Miller dropped to the bench being replaced by Isiah Noel-Williams who replaced him as a substitute on Tuesday. The other change was Nile Ranger starting for York. Wes was omitted from the bench also either as a precautionary rest or an undisclosed injury. Bruno Andrade was among the substitutes along with Kai Fifield returning after a lengthy injury Harlain Mbayo was unavailable serving a one match suspension following his dismissal against Redditch, as was Gary Hooper playing in a tournament in Scotland for a Celtic legends team. Once again, the bench looked loaded with attacking options but with limited scope for defensive adjustments.

The afternoon was grey with the floodlights on from kick-off. There was a nip in the air but it was only to be expected with Christmas only just over five weeks away. A chill wind was blowing from the turnstiles corner of the ground but with no great strength.

The teams swapped ends before Kettering kicked -off leaving Bedford in all blue with white trim to defend the Pro-saw stand. Kettering attacked from the off applying some early pressure on the Bedford penalty area. The attack broke down when Thanoj lost his footing in possession in Bedford’s penalty area. Any hopes for an early penalty for the hosts were swiftly dashed by the Referee waving away any appeals.

Kettering had started brightly, and a little under five minutes had been played, when Hart advanced down Bedford’s left before picking out Noel-Williams. Isiah with a defender in close cover made room for himself to cross the ball into the middle trying to pick out Edwards whose first time volley was blocked by a defender.

Just before the ten-minute mark, Bedford won a throw in close to the corner flag on the stand side. With a long throw specialist, it was effectively a corner but it was cleared by the head of Ranger with Wilson tidying up. The ball was switched to the opposite end and Kettering won the first corner of the game but the delivery was poor and Bedford cleared the set piece with ease.

After a quarter of an hour’s play, Ben Hart was having some success down Kettering’s right and lifted a dangerous looking ball into the Bedford goalmouth The cross drifted too close to the keeper though and Harrison caught the ball with ease under his crossbar. Shortly after, Kettering would force another corner after Noel-Williams drove forward into the penalty before seeing his shot blocked behind by Gyamfi. Before the corner could be taken, Mr Wesson stopped play to have words to Edwards and Wilson-Brathwaite due to the pushing and pulling that was taking place. The corner when taken came to nothing.

Nearly twenty minutes had been played when the nature of the game changed completely. Kettering were attacking through Kelly-Evans down the open side. Devon’s cross was completely missed by Mensah attempting to hack the ball clear. The ball sat up nicely as both Wilson and Noel-Williams attempted to drive the ball goalwards, but whoever it was they saw their shot blocked by the back of Mullins on the six-yard line and the ball squirt away towards the touchline. Wilson reacted quickest and regained possession for Kettering. Tyree lifted the ball square but the Kettering forwards had advanced too far and the ball behind them was cleared ending up with Gyamfi just about inside his own half. As Johnson closed him down, the Bedford man played a perfectly angled ball back into the space that Connor had been occupying for Blake to run on to. The Bedford captain had timed his run to perfection ensuring that the did not stray into an offside position carefully watching White on the opposite side of the field. The ball was too far out of Jezeph’s penalty area and Dan had to wait for forward and ball to close the gap. It was a great finish by Blake threading it through Dan’s legs to score. 0-1 Bedford 19 mins.

The discomfort of the majority of the large crowd was added to shortly after the restart when a drizzly rain started that would persist for the remainder of the game. Bedford’s spirits were dampened seven minutes after taking the lead. Kettering were awarded a throw-in on the open side level with the edge of the Bedford penalty area. The situation appeared to be under the defence’s control with seemingly no threat to Harrison’s goal. Hart’s throw looping up into the air was aimed towards Ranger some six yards from the by-line on the edge of the penalty area. Nile took a single touch to push the ball towards Noel-Williams about three yards away. Isiah hit a sweet first time left-footed shot the fizzed low beating Harrison at his near post and in a blink of an eye from out of nowhere Kettering were level. 1-1 Kettering 26 mins.

Kettering had the best of the remainder of the half but despite winning two corners and a free kick in a central position some thirty yards out Harrison was not troubled in the Bedford goal.

Just before the end of the first half the game got its first yellow card when Gyamfi chasing a hopeful ball forward was beaten to it by Jezeph racing out of his goal. Dan chested the ball down but the Bedford forward caught Dan after the ball had been cleared sufficiently late for Mr Wesson to take exception and caution the number nine. Nothing occurred of note in the additional minute played.

Half Time: Kettering Town 1  Bedford Town 1

Bedford made a substitution with Edward Panter replacing Leon Lobjolt who appeared to by labouring with an injury in the closing stages of the first half.

Kettering attacked from the start off the second half. Johnson played a nice, angled ball from his own half to the feet of Wilson on the left wing. Tyree carried the ball forward before sending a tantalising diagonal ball low into the goal mouth. Edwards could not reach it though, and the ball passed across the face of the goal to be collected by Hart, in a very advanced position just before it went behind. The ball was then turned back to Noel-Williams who sent a shot towards goal. The ball ran through to Edwards a couple of yards out and pivoting tried to flick the ball home only to see it blocked on the line and kicked clear. There was little strength in the clearance and it fell to Kelly-Evans who shot the ball back from where it had come. Once again, a Bedford defender blocked the ball. The danger was not over though and the ball dropped to Thanoj who threaded the ball through into space for Wilson to run onto. Tyree tried to force the ball past Harrison at the near post but the keeper managed to get something on the ball causing it to pop up into the air and was favoured by fortune as the ball dropped into his grateful hands.

 Bedford looked to have decided to settle for a draw slowing the game down at every opportunity and Harrison taking as long as possible on goal kicks and releasing the ball. The departure of one of their top scorers at half time might have influenced their decision.

Ten minutes of the half had been played when Mr Wesson was called into action. Jezeph sent a high ball deep downfield. Noel-Williams chased the ball at top speed. Harrison came out of his goal to collect the ball and Green positioned himself between the two closing players and with his back to Isiah, stopped dead. Noel-Williams travelling at full pelt could not stop himself from cannoning into the back of the defender sending both players to the floor. Green got to his feet first and dashed to where Isiah was regaining his feet and barged the Kettering man back to the floor and to compound the display of the loss of temper bent over the prostrate Noel-Williams no doubt sharing his emotions with the Kettering man. Mr Wesson decided to caution Isiah for the innocuous collision, and after talking to Green, showed a similar yellow card which for the display of retaliation could with some referees deemed violent conduct and worthy of a red.

Noel-Williams had become a marked person in Bedford’s eyes and almost every challenge involving him was portrayed by the Bedford player as a heinous assault accompanied by ‘squeals” and rolling around on the floor. After one such incident, Mr Wesson advised Noel-Williams that he had expended his last chance and any further behaviour of that ilk would see him not completing the game. Connor Johnson had to leave the field for a short period to allow a blood injury to be treated but Bedford posed no threat on the Kettering goal during his three-minute absence.

With just under twenty minutes of the second half played, Kettering made a double substitution in an attempt to break the deadlock. Noel-Williams walking a disciplinary tightrope was replaced by Miller and Ranger departed to make way for the welcome return of Fifield. Shortly after coming on, Miller had a shot at  goal. The ball had been fed out wide to Hart who crossed the ball into the Bedford penalty area where it was partially cleared but good pressing by Kelly-Evans and Wilson just outside the penalty area caused the Bedford player to lose possession. The ball broke to Luca some twenty yards out but, his shot was not caught properly and bobbled weakly to Harrison who made the most of a simple save.

Five minutes later, Kettering were attacking down Bedford’s right with Wilson in possession. Faced by two defenders, he played a quick 1-2 with Thanoj who is carefully measured return ball saw Wilson beyond his two antagonists heading towards goal. The two defenders impeded each other and, as he was falling, Wilson-Brathwaite brought Tyree down with a tackle acceptable only at Twickenham. It was right on the corner of the penalty area but crucially just outside. The Bedford defender was shown a yellow card for his actions.

The resulting free-kick by Thanoj failed to beat the first man behind the wall allowing Bedford to attempt a counterattack, but Gyamfi knowing he was off-side, gave up the chase allowing Kettering to regain possession.

On seventy-six minutes, Edwards did well to earn a corner, as he was isolated up front with Bedford playing a five-man back line. The resulting corner on the open side from Hart was looped into the middle of the goalmouth where it was headed away a defender. The ball dropped to Fifield, near the penalty spot who saw his shot blocked. The ball bounced towards Thanoj on the edge of the penalty area in a central position. Andi controlled the ball with his chest before hitting a low left-footed drive which rocketed into the bottom corner of the goal giving Harrison no chance. 2-1 Kettering  77 mins.

Kettering made a third change before the restart with Andrade replacing Wilson. Having fallen behind for the first time in the match, Bedford needed to change their game plan. They started to look to commit more players into the attack to reinforce this they made a double substitution with Wilson-Brathwaite and Thomas being replaced by Soyemi-Ololade and Cotter.

Andrade’s first action of note came after eighty-four minutes. Kelly-Evans played a high ball forward down the right wing where Fifield took possession and advanced with the ball. On reaching the edge of the penalty area, he squared the ball towards Edwards but a defender managed to get a foot in and send the ball ballooning up into the air. It came down on the opposite side of the area where Bruno and a defender challenged for the ball. It broke kindly for Andrade, but his shot was sent directly at Harrison and was comfortably collected.

As regulation time was coming to an end, Bedford won a throw-in close to the corner flag on the stand side. It was launched into the crowded goalmouth where Kettering struggled to clear the ball. Eventually, the ball broke to Blake in space some twelve yards out and to the stand side of the area. He tried to curl the ball into the top far corner of the goal but the curl was insufficient and passed wide of the post for a goal-kick as time expired. A minimum of six additional minutes was announced. Ironically, as most of that time was accrued from the slowing tactics employed by Bedford when they are drawing the match.

In the first minute of added time, Bedford won another throw-in close the corner flag but this time on the open side. Once more, the ball was tossed high and deep into a crowded penalty area and after some head tennis the ball fell to Mensah who headed against the bar. Jezeph pushed the ball away but it came straight back at him and this time he got two fists on the ball relieving the pressure before Kettering were awarded a free kick for a foul on the edge of their own area.

A minute later, Kettering had the chance to make the game safe. A ball was kicked forward by Kettering falling to Fifield just about on the centre spot. Kai made a deft touch to send the ball forward for Edwards to run onto. Mullins quickly got back to cover, but Jonny retained possession. With Fifield unmarked to his right, Edwards spurned the chance of a simple pass and attempted the spectacular but only succeeded in blasting the ball over the Tin Hat.

The Kettering defence was showing signs of panic with even the experienced players being unable to put a foot on the ball and retain possession. Andrade was booked for something he said to referee and Johnson received a yellow card for kicking the ball away after the whistle had been blown. To be fair to Johnson he was already swinging his foot at the ball when the whistle was blown.

With the additional time coming to an end, Bedford were moving forward through Panter on the corner of the penalty area on the open side. Powell was facing up to the player but Andrade came into the player from behind conceding a silly free kick in a dangerous spot when a challenge was not warranted. Before the free kick could be taken, Bedford made a substitution with Gyamfi being replaced by Hall. Hall took the set-piece aiming it at Jezeph’s near post. Dan kept it out, but the ball fell to a blue shirt who pushed it goalwards where Green tried to pivot and turn the ball in where once again Jezeph stopped. However, as it fell to Mensah he fired the ball home. 2-2 Bedford 90+7 mins.

Bedford celebrated like they had won the Champions League with the majority of their bench rushing onto the pitch. This was brought to the attention of Mr Wesson by his assistant resulting in a booking for Bedford’s manager Lee Bircham before the restart.

There was sufficient time for Kettering to kick off and the ball was played back to Kelly-Evans who fed the ball outside to Hart before making to advance down the pitch. His progress was stopped by a cynical trip from Panter off the ball. As play progressed downfield, Devon kicked the Bedford man. Hart lifted the ball towards the Bedford penalty area but it was met by a blue shirted head at which the final whistle was blown.

Full Time: Kettering Town 2  Bedford Town 2

The sounding of the final whistle did not signal the end of the action as  Kelly-Evans squared up to Panter in the middle of the field resulting in a flurry of punches thrown and the dismissal of both participants. This would mean Devon missing the Doncaster match.

The winning run of Kettering came to an end as it had to at some time, but the undefeated home record remains intact. Bedford came to Latimer Park with a plan an executed it. The Kettering defence after the team had taken the lead showed distinct signs of panic as the visitors hoisted high balls into a packed penalty area and taking their chances with a football bagatelle. Having settled for a point at half time, they played with plenty of players behind the ball and frustrated Kettering by not allowing home team time to dwell on the ball. The tactics worked, and Harrison was not tested much during the game having been beaten by two very good shots. Having fallen behind Bedford attacked in numbers and one wonders if they had played in that style for more than the last fifteen minutes what the result could have been.

Kettering Town yellow cards: Noel-Williams – foul Andrade – dissent  Johnson – kicking the ball away  Red Panter  – violent conduct.

Bedford Town yellow cards: Gyamfi, Green, Wilson-Brathwaite – fouls Bircham – entering field of play .Red Kelly-Evans – violent conduct.

Attendance: 2093

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match selected by The Hut – Tyree Wilson –  Following on from a good performance at Telford, Tyree produced another good performance giving the right back a torrid time and creating chances for the team. The return of Kai Fifield from injury should assist Tyree with opponents having to be wary of attacks with pace coming down both wings and the opportunity to exchange wings during a game to further unsettle full backs.