Match Report KTFC vs. Stratford Town FC 17 August 2024

Kettering Town v Stratford Town

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 17th August 2024   3:00pm

Referee:  Alistair Wilson     Assistants:  Aimee Kier and James Truman

In contrast to last season, when Kettering first met Stratford with only seven weeks of the season remaining, the visitors would provide the new Poppies team with an early test to show whether Mr Lavery’s squad are contenders or pretenders. During the close season, Stratford looked to have improved on least season’s squad which missed out on a play-off on goal difference. They have started the season well winning both games scoring six goals in the process. Two former Poppies lined up for Stratford with veteran Lewis Wilson starting and Andre Wright discarded by Kettering without having been given a run in the side, on the bench.

Richard Lavery stuck with exactly the same starting line-up and bench that played so well on Tuesday evening when they disassembled Spalding. With no appreciable rainfall in Burton Latimer since Tuesday’s game, and despite watering by Ian Hopewell, the pitch looked hard and dry with patches of yellowing grass producing a firm playing surface. The afternoon was warm but a light cloud covering stopped the sun from causing discomfort of the players and a light cooling breeze assisted in this.

Stratford in a white strip with orange trim reminiscent of 1970’s Luton Town’s away kit kicked off attacking the Prosaw stand with Kettering in red and black. Kettering started brightly attacking from the off. Three minutes had gone when the Stratford defence turned the ball back to keeper Smith, but Tyree Wilson sprinted forward to put the goalie under pressure getting a foot on the ball, but the ball broke kindly for the Stratford man as he cleared the ball. A couple of minutes later, Fifield was narrowly off-side when he looked to have got past the Stratford back line. Fifield was in action again shortly after as he was set off down the right wing he centred the ball toward Noel-Williams who was readying himself for a shot when Solanke with pinpoint timing intercepted the pass and thwarted the attack.

Ten minutes had gone when York was in possession on the edge of the Stratford penalty area, but his attempted shot was blocked. However, the ball fell to Johnson who threaded a ball through for Noel-Williams to run onto beating the off-side trap. Isiah from six yards out on the right-hand side of the goal with just the keeper to beat spurned a gilt-edged chance by dragging his right footed shot across the face of the goal.

Stratford had their first sight of goal after the quarter hour mark when a cross was deflected to Solanke, but his effort went well wide of the post. 

Just over twenty minutes had been played when Kettering worked the ball forward to Kelly-Evans whose shot was well covered by Worley who blocked the ball behind for the first corner of the game. Thanoj’s set-piece from the open side was partially cleared but only to Devon Kelly-Evans who returned the ball out to Thanoj for a second attempt. This time Andi aimed his cross towards the far post where Atcha was waiting but he appeared to get a push in the back. Appeals from the players and the fans in the Tin Hat were ignored by the match referee, Mr Wilson.

Stratford won their first corner after half an hour of play when Johnson put the ball behind dispossessing Ebanks. It was cleared by Devon Kelly-Evans, but the ball came almost straight back with two shots in quick succession by Stratford the first was a powerful shot but straight at Jezeph, but such was the power that Dan could just block the ball back from where it came from. The follow up shot looked to place the ball in the corner but Hart covering Jezeph’s right hand post cleared the ball just short of the goal-line.

With ten minutes left in the half, Noel-Williams went up with Ison to challenge for a ball in the air leaving the Kettering man on the floor after appearing to take an elbow to the jaw. Mr Wilson awarded Kettering a free kick but saw no need to talk to the Stratford player. Minutes later, the game did get its first yellow card when Johnson and Atcha failed to deal with a high ball out of defence by Stratford. The ball broke for Ebanks but Atcha turning, tangled legs with the forward before he could capitalise on the mistake. The free kick just inside Kettering’s half led to a corner which came to nothing.

Five minutes before half time, Noel-Williams sent York scampering down the right wing out-pacing his support and doing well enough to win a corner on the stand side. Thanoj’s corner was sent goal-wards by Noel-Williams but was headed off the line. Possession was retained by Hart who moved the ball to Thanoj who connected with Fifield who delivered a fine shot at goal forcing Smith to tip the ball over the bar. The follow up corner was poor, failing to beat the first man, but the ball was still with Kettering who returned the ball to Thanoj. However, his centre went out on the full. Johnson had piqued the ire of Worley who retaliated by kicking out at Connor but failed to connect. It was missed by the referee and assistant referee Truman who seemingly was looking straight at it.

The visitors came straight back at Kettering being awarded a free kick on the clubhouse side. The kick was aimed towards the far post where McCone rose highest but put his header from six yards out wide of the post. The half finished with Ebanks finally being cautioned after going in late on Devon Kelly-Evans. Mr Wilson along with the yellow card gave Ebanks a lecture on his future conduct in the game.

Half Time: Kettering Town 0 Stratford Town 0

Neither side made any personnel changes at half-time. Whatever Richard Lavery said to his players at half time I hope he wrote it down as before most people including the Stratford players set themselves for the second 45 minutes Kettering had scored. Thanoj from the kick-off played it back to Devon Kelly-Evans who squared it to Hart. Ben took it past one player and carried on going with Stratford players backing off. He reached just about to the edge of the penalty area before passing it outside to Fifield. Kai took it to the by-line and cut an angled ball back into the middle where Wes York had a simple tap in to score 14 seconds after kick-off. 1-0 Kettering 46 mins

Four minutes into the half and Ebanks was in trouble again following his booking in the closing stages of the first half. A high ball from Stratford bounced in front of Ebanks who had his back to goal and Ebanks unwisely followed the path with his foot in an attempt to control it. Johnson came from his blind side and headed the ball away as Ebanks caught him on the head. The Kettering players felt aggrieved but there was no malice shown by Ebanks, but he had another chat with Mr Wilson. From the resulting free-kick, Jezeph played down the left-wing Lewis Wilson slipped allowing namesake Tyree Wilson to race forward. The ball was fed to York but there was no-one in the box to take advantage. The ball was partially cleared but only to Thanoj, but he miscued his shot sending it straight into the ground and bounced straight into the arms of Smith.  Shortly after, Stratford quickly shifted play to the opposite end breaking forward with speed. The attack was halted when Devon Kelly-Evans intercepted a cross blocking it behind for a corner. The corner was sliced cleared by York but landed with Solanke but his effort from the edge of the box sailed high over the bar.

After ten minutes Kettering had the chance to double their lead. Devon Kelly-Evans threaded a wonderful ball through for Fifield to run onto, carefully avoiding the off-side trap. He was accompanied by both York and Wilson as three red and black shirts raced clear of Stratford’s defensive line. Kai advanced forward before squaring the ball to York centrally positioned some 10 yards out facing Smith. Wes opted to try and take it around the keeper rather than lift it over him. His first touch let him down though and was slightly too firm taking it by the goalie, but it raced away over the hard surface and tamely went behind for a goal-kick.

As so often happens in football, a golden opportunity wasted at one end is punished by the Footballing Gods at the other. The goal-kick was hoisted downfield. Atcha rose to head the ball away, but the ball was sent up into the air to Atcha ‘s left and behind him. It fell perfectly to an unmarked Owen James who, controlled the ball with his right foot, before curling a left foot shot high to Jezeph’s left leaving Dan rooted to the spot. 1-1 Stratford 56 mins

Five minutes later Stratford won a corner. It was delivered to the far post where an unmarked Ison from six yards out sliced his shot high and wide. Stratford were now starting to get the upper hand.

Play was stopped after sixty-six minutes when Hussey required treatment from the sports therapist. Kettering took the opportunity to make their first substitution with Harlain Mbayo replacing Sidik Atcha in a like-for-like swap. Mbayo’s first action was to break up a Stratford attack and initiate a Kettering attack. Noel-Williams lifted a ball over Lewis Wilson to allow Tyree to break down the left wing as Lewis raised his arm claiming offside. Tyree looked to centre the ball to Isiah in the middle but the pass was cut out by McCone but the ball went straight to Wilson to try again. By this time, Stratford had defenders back in numbers and prevented Kettering from piercing the defence.

Two minutes later Tyree Wilson looked to have set York free down the centre of the park but Wes was flagged off-side. Before play was restarted, Stratford declared their intent of going for the win by replacing Finlay Brennan with forward Andre Wright. The change appeared to have had an imediate effect as a long ball was played forward to Ebanks. He laid the ball off inside to Lafferty who tried an ambitious curling shot which just pasted the far post.

With less than twenty minutes to go, Johnson did Jezeph no favours with a underhit backpass which bobbled befpre reaching Dan causing the keeper to make a hurried sliced clearance which went out for a throw-in in front of the white stand. The throw was sent long aimed towards the near post. The ball bounced of a defender to a forward whose shot ended up as a pass across the six yard box where it bounced off another Stratford players leg towards the goal. It ricocheted off a defender back to the original forward but, confronted by an advancing Jezeph, scooped the ball over the bar. The very next minute as a Kettering broke down Stratford played a long ball forward aimed towards Ebanks who looked to break clear. He got in position to shoot but his effort was blocked by a last ditch effort by Johnson. However, with two Stratford players over the prostrate defender they quickly gained possession. However, fortunately for Kettering, the chance fell to Lafferty who sent the ball wide once more.

With fifteen minutes remaing Mr Wilson made his first controversial desicion. A high ball was played forward by Stratford aimed towards the white stand. Powell was running towards the ball with his eyes fixed on the ball. A Stratford player saw the approaching defender and moved into the path of Aaron making no attempt to play the ball and a collision occured leaving Powell on the floor. Mr Wilson allowed play to continue with Stratford in possesion but, after an interval, halted play to allow Powell to receive treatment. With Kettering expecting play to restart with a drop ball the referee awarded a free kick to Stratford. Tom Cherry protested and recieved a caution. Devon Kelly-Evans also protested and was also cautioned. Fortunately, the free kick came to nothing with Jezeph collecting the ball easily.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Stratford once again played the ball forward to Ebanks. The forward held the ball up before feeding it outside to Wright who sent a pin-point pass to the feet of Lafferty unmarked six yards out who somehow failed to make contact. A merest contact would have led to a goal. Before play restarted, Stratford made their second substitution with Josh Hawker replacing Lewis Ison.

With seven minutes to go, Kettering attacked down the right wing through Fifield. His cross looked to have been over hit but looped over to land at the feet of Tyree Wilson he was challenged by Lewis Wilson on the by-line resulting in a Kettering corner. Noel-Williams kick didn’t manage to find a red shirt but the ball came out the other side where it was collected by Fifield. Kai cut inside before attempting an ambitious curling shot on the run but it drifted over the bar untroubling Smith. Before the resulting goal-kick, Kettering made their second substitution with Remaye Campbell replacing Wes York.

With less than two minutes left of regulation time remaining, Kettering sent a long ball downfield McCone rose with Noel-Williams to head the ball clear but led with his elbow catching Isiah on the ear. The assistant referee saw the elbow and flagged for it the referee ignored it and waved play on. The assistant referee stuck to her guns emboldened by the support of the Kettering bench and the Kettering supporters. The referee reluctantly halted play but as he went over to talk to the official behind him the game decended into a series of pushing and shoving across the pitch. Having lost control the referee showed a second yellow card to Tom Cherry. Mr Wilson finally lowered himself to consult with Ms Kerr who would have no doubt informed him of the elbow the reason for her flagging for a free-kick. The referee promptly ignored her and did not even talk to McCone let alone caution him, awarding Kettering a free kick in a totally arbitary spot on the field with no player from either side being cautioned.

 As the board denoting that six extra minutes were due to be played was raised by Malc Lewer, Jezeph was forced to come out of his area to head clear a long ball forward by Stratford. Kettering got the ball in the Stratford goal in injury time but Campbell’s effort was ruled out with an off-side desicion long before he beat Smith. Both sides huffed and puffed in the closing stages but neither keeper was troubled.

Full Time: Kettering Town 1 Stratford Town 1

A game of missed chances and, in the end, neither side did enough to justify taking all three points. Lafferty missed a sitter late in the second half but with Stratford one of the fancied teams to win the league this could prove to be a good point come the end of the season. Mr Wilson made some controversial decisions in the favour of the visitors which were questioned by the majority of those in Latimer Park.  

Kettering Town yellow cards: Atcha – foul Kelly-Evans – dissent Cherry – dissent

 2^nd yellow/red Cherry – dissent

Stratford Town yellow cards: Ebanks – foul

Attendance: 912

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Connor Johnson.  Connor on the whole had a solid performance distributed the ball well from defence however Dan Jezeph might not have voted for him after one back pass left the keeper under a lot of pressure. Another plus is that Connor managed to complete 90 minutes without a caution. Not so Devon Kelly-Evans who picked up his third yellow card in as many matches and could well be looking at an enforced break of play before Christmas.