Match Report: KTFC vs Spalding United 13 August 2024

Kettering Town v Spalding United

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central

Tuesday 13th August 2024   7:55pm

Referee: Samuel Lee                                  Assistants:  Chris Walton, Matthew Paul

Tonight marked the beginning of a new chapter in the long history of Kettering Town. The new owners George and Nadiya Akhtar along with Director of Football Fabian Forde together with the Management Team, have brought a new energy to the club as evidenced by the hard work during the close season to improve Latimer Park. The playing staff was virtually new with Richard Lavery retaining just 5 players from the squad which he coaxed into avoiding relegation last season. A lot of effort and determination has allowed him to assemble a squad of his choosing who would perform in a never say die attitude, a style, of energy and effort appreciated by the Kettering fan base.

Saturday’s opening game to the league saw a disappointing result but an acceptable performance level which deserved at least a point but in football you often do not get your just rewards. Mr Lavery made two changes to the line-up from Halesowen with the return in goal, after suspension of Dan Jezeph and up front Wes York starting with Remaye Campbell reverting to the bench. Nine Kettering players would be making their Latimer Park league debut with Jezeph and Connor Johnson being the exceptions.

Visitors tonight would be Spalding United promoted last season after winning the Northern Premier League Midland Division ahead of Harborough Town and were hunting another three points following a 1-0 win versus fellow newly promoted side Bedford Town last Saturday. Their line-up contained more than a few familiar faces, not the least manager Elliot Sandy, James Clifton and Sam Cartwright. Three players who appeared for Kettering were in the squad Sam Bennett, Kieron Dawes and Lewis White. A fourth player Ty Lewthwaite is registered with Spalding but was unavailable for selection for tonight’s game due to injury.

The pitch looked in excellent condition with the program of continuous improvement continuing during the close On a still evening it was considerably cooler that the previous two days and the weather looked perfectly conducive for football.

Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes and when the game did start it was Kettering in red and black kicking-off attacking the Tin Hat end with Spalding in an all-royal blue strip with yellow trim. Spalding had the first chance of the game when Aaron Powell conceded an early free kick. Spalding’s tall defenders came up for the set piece, but the ball was played too close to Jezeph who rose highest and cleanly caught the ball. Honours were even in the opening minutes, but Kai Fifield was having some success down Spalding’s left.  After ten minutes a high ball, out from Spalding’s defence was contested by Sidik Atcha and Tyler Winters ending with Winters on the floor. The referee gave the advantage to the forward who on regaining his feet wanted to make something of it with the closest Kettering player which happened to be the shortest player on the field Devon Kelly-Evans, twin brother of former Poppies right-back Dion, but the latter is not the sort to be intimidated by a taller opponent. The free kick was lofted high into Kettering’s penalty area where it was headed behind by Johnson for the first corner of the game. The corner was well defended by the host’s and dealt with easily.

In front of what proved a raucous 889 fans in attendance at Latimer Park, it was the visitors that threatened first with Joshua Ezewele’s strike from just outside the box forcing a great block from Connor Johnson in the early stages. Just before the quarter hour mark a Spalding attack broke down and the ball was played forward by Kettering. Sam Cartwright misjudged the flight of the ball, and it sailed past him allowing Wes York to run onto the ball leaving him 1v1 against Tony Breedon in the Spalding goal. Wes carried the ball forward but was closed down from behind by a defender racing back. Wes failed to register the presence of Fifield to his right and doggedly retained possession of the ball but failed to make space for a shot or lay the ball off before he ran out of steam. Kettering retained possession and eventually Ben Hart forced a corner for Kettering, but it came to nothing. The cleared ball was recycled by Kettering culminating in a shot from Thanoj from 25 yards out which had Breeden scrambling low to push it around the post for another corner. This corner was put behind for a follow up corner. This corner picked out Johnson, but Connor failed to make a good connection with the ball, and it squirts off parallel to the goal and was cleared away. Kettering came straight back at the visitors this time down their right flank as Wilson took on the full-back and passed him with ease. Tyree took the ball to the by-line before cutting it back to Powell who was backing up the forward. Aaron lent back slightly and as a result saw his shot climb over the bar.

The resulting goal kick only temporarily relieved the pressure on the Spalding goal. Ben Hart obtained possession and played the ball forward for Isiah Noel-Williams to run onto. Looking like it was a hopeless cause Isiah found that extra burst of energy to reach the ball and square it inside to York who calmly stroked the ball home with ease and precision into the bottom corner with a side foot leaving Breeden with no chance. Knowing how threatening the former Coalville man had looked in the first half, it was no more than he had deserved 1-0 Kettering 19 mins. 

Spalding looked to make an immediate response and after a water break made a probing attack down Kettering’s right. The ball was switched across the park picking out Ezewele some 30 yards out in plenty of space and the full-back advanced with menace. Powell however, made up the intervening distance and closed down the Spalding man, not diving in and shepherding him to the by-line where he won a goal-kick.

It was a brief interruption in the flow of the game and Kettering were quickly back on the front foot with Hart advancing down the wing before sending in a low cross which was put behind by Walker for another Kettering corner. Wilson’s set piece came to nothing. Spalding looked to retain possession and started stringing a series of passes together but pressing from Tyree and Isiah led to a miscued pass going out for a Kettering throw-in. The ball was worked inside to Devon Kelly-Evans who carried the ball forward down the middle of the pitch. Devon flicked the ball outside to Fifield who took a touch before returning the ball to DKE. The Kettering midfield hit a low long distance shot which Breeden in the Spalding goal reacted late to possibly believing the ball was going wide. The ball hit the inside of the post before bouncing into the keeper and away. Noel-Williams made for the loose ball but was beaten to the ball which was cleared away. Kettering were not to be denied though and the very next minute Fifield broke down the right wing. He slid the ball inside to Noel-Williams who threaded the ball forward for York to run onto outpacing his marker. This time 1v1 against the keeper Wes took the ball around Breeden but with the narrowing angle cut the ball back to Wilson whose shot managed to squeeze under Breeden, who got a glove on the ball, but not enough to stop it. 2-0 Kettering 31 mins.

Two minutes later Spalding were awarded another free kick just about on the half-way line when once again Winters went down under the slightest of pressure. Spalding’s big men trundled up from the back anticipating a high ball lifted into the penalty area. It was headed clear by Atcha but fell to Walker on the edge of the box who saw his first time shot hit the outside of the post and go behind for a goal kick, but Jezeph was in position to make a save if required. The action again switched to the Tin Hat end when with just under ten minutes of the half remaining Kettering were awarded a free-kick some thirty yards out following a foul on Devon Kelly-Evans. Thanoj lifted a ball aimed towards a line of waiting red shirts. The ball was partially cleared and fell to DKE who hit a powerful shot, but it was rising from when it left his boot and passed over the bar. Kettering were looking for a third before half-time and Fifield advanced down the right wing once again before jinking left and right putting the defender off balance before turning the ball into the middle. There was a scramble in the Spalding penalty area before the ball fell to York who fired into the near post. Keiron Dawes managed to get his chest to the ball and turn it onto the post before it was hacked clear. The ball went straight to Wilson who recycled the ball with it being worked across to Thanoj who saw his effort parried by Breeden, Noel-Williams pounced on the rebound and tried to lift the ball over the keeper but once again Breeden produced a good save with his feet to keep the score to two.

Inside the last five minutes the game got its first yellow card when Atcha collecting the ball deep inside his own half looked to carry the ball forward, but his progress was stopped with a trip from Kyle Barker. Three additional minutes were played after regulation time expired during which Poppy old boy James Clifton had a shot, but it looped harmlessly over the bar.

Half Time: Kettering Town 2 Spalding United 0

With his team being under the cosh for the majority of the first half fortunate not to be further behind Elliot Sandy had to make changes. Callum Chettle and Jonathan Ngandu came on replacing Kyle Bennett and Sam Bennett.

Kettering had the first chance of the second half after 47 minutes when Johnson played a very good ball down the left wing for Wilson to run onto. Tyree collected and picked out York in the middle with a cross, but Wes’s header lacked power and was directed straight at Breeden.

Five minutes into the half and Ben Hart was lucky to avoid receiving a yellow card following a rash challenge but was left no doubt that further transgression would result in a card. Moments later a Kettering player did go in the book. Connor Johnson committing a foul right on the edge of the penalty area. The challenge did not draw the card but the mindless kicking away of the ball did. The ball was lifted into Kettering’s penalty area, but Jezeph rose and cleanly caught the ball. The next Spalding attack saw Hart foul Winters again and true to his word the referee booked Ben. From the free-kick Clifton set up substitute Callum Chettle who fired in a good shot, but Jezeph was equal to it and palmed it over for a corner which came to nothing.

Spalding now had their best spell of the game retaining the ball and making headway stringing passes together. Kettering were challenging for the ball, but all the loose balls were falling to the visitors. Spalding was starting to apply pressure to the Kettering defence, but it might have been bending but was far from breaking. In order to keep the energy levels high in defence, Kettering made their first substitution after 64 minutes with Aaron Powell making way for Harlain Mbayo.

Shortly after the personnel change, Kettering almost increased their lead Devon Kelly-Evans played the ball into the box but a goal-line clearance by a defender averted the goal.

With just over twenty minutes to go Clifton went down injured in the centre circle. After treatment from the Spalding physio, it became apparent that he could not continue and was replaced by Lewis White. The departure of their captain ended Spalding’s chances of obtaining a result. And so, it was on the seventy-minute mark Fifield picked up a loose ball midway inside Spalding’s half he jinked his way forward ignoring attempts to stop him illegally before playing a wonderful 1-2 with Wilson and on receiving the ball back from Tyree slotted the ball past Breeden.

3-0 Kettering 70 mins.

Spalding made one final substitution with Lewis Darlington coming on for Kieron Dawes, but the fight had gone out of the Lincolnshire team. With just over a quarter of an hour to play, Wilson swapped passes with Noel-Williams as he strolled down the left wing tormenting the defender before pulling the ball back into the middle for Noel-Williams who saw his shot saved well by Tony Breeden diving low to his right to push the ball past the post denying Isiah his first Poppies goal. It would be Isiah’s last contribution being replaced shortly after by Luca Miller.

Seven minutes later, the majority of Latimer Park was on its feet one final time as the Poppies capped off a brilliant night’s work by making it four putting the final seal on their dominant performance. A fine passing movement saw the team move the ball from the back four starting with Mbayo via Atcha to York and onto Thanoj who threaded the ball to Fifield who held the ball up to allow Hart to overlay and deliver a measured angled ball along the floor to Wes York who provided the tap home for a wonderful goal. 4-0 Kettering 77 mins.

Before the restart Kettering made another substitution with Dan Jarvis coming on to replace Tyree Wilson. Ty left the pitch on the clubhouse side and would have enjoyed the walk back to the dugout passing in front of the Prosaw stand where the Poppies faithful were in full song. Spalding were still looking for a consolation goal and Devon Kelly-Evans received a yellow card for preventing the visitors from taking a free kick. Two further substitutions followed with Remaye Campbell replacing Wes York and Dan Emovon replacing Connor Johnson.

As shouts of “we want five” rang round the stands, Kettering could have made it five with four minutes to when good work from Dan Jarvis picked out Campbell at the far post but having just come on wasn’t up to game speed and nodded it over the bar.

Spalding were forced to endure an additional five minutes, but Spalding stuck to the task winning a free kick on the edge of Kettering’s penalty area. The free kick taken by Winters struck the defensive wall and went behind for a corner. The set-piece was the last play of the game picking out Cartwright, but he could only head the ball over the bar.

Full Time: Kettering Town 4 Spalding United 0

A great display of football with an all-round team display. Every player played their part with Richard Lavery fully utilizing the ability to make five substitutions allowing players to give their all to be replaced with fresh legs. Aaron Powell looked unhappy to be substituted just after the hour mark which shows his desire to perform for the team. Indeed, he had a good game. However, the game has evolved and is now a squad game and not just a starting XI. The tactical tweaks applied by Mr Lavery after the Halesowen game was effective with a genuine three-pronged attack with pace across the whole front line giving the opposition defence no chance to sit back and take it easy. A turning point of the game was early in the second half when Dan Jezeph made a great save to preserve the two-goal lead. Conceding then would have given Spalding hope and belief that they could salvage something from the game but without a fine performance from Tony Breeden it would have been many more. A solid defensive performance enabled the forwards to have a second win and cruise to an impressive win. The large crowd went home elated with the big win who will tell their friends and work colleagues and with a tough test of Stratford on Saturday coming up and hopefully a four-figure attendance could be reached.

Kettering Town yellow cards: Johnson – kicking the ball away Hart – Foul    Kelly-Evans – preventing quick free-kick

Spalding United yellow cards:  Barker – foul

Attendance: 889

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match selected by Claire Lovell Moore– Tyree Wilson 

Tyree got the nod for man of the match. If it was a matter of effort expended, then all those wearing a red shirt would have been in with a shout. Tyree possesses genuine pace and the ability to past defenders something which the team has lacked for several seasons. His ability to swap sides with Kai Fifield is useful as it once again enables Kettering to pose different problems to defenders and keep them off balance. His confidence will not be harmed by him scoring a goal and making one for Kai, proving to himself that he belongs at this level.