Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 31^st January 2026  3:00pm

      Referee:  Craig Charles               Assistants: Jordan Sandwell and Kahlan Sannerude

A good contingent of Kettering supporters travelled down the A4 for their teams third match of 2026. The fans are still waiting to attend a match at Latimer Park this year with three postponements due to a sodden playing surface. Today’s opponents would be Needham Market who endured a torrid last season being relegated from The National League North twelve points from safety. They managed to take all three points in October with a narrow 1-0 victory in the last match before Liam McDonald took over as manager. There have been considerable personnel changes since then but more significant changes have been made both in attitude and application.

Liam made two changes to the starting XI which achieved a controlled victory on the road at Bishop’s Stortford. Blaine Rowe, having served his one match suspension for his red card received at Leiston, returned at right back as Mr McDonald favoured a flat back four in a 4-4-2 formation. Recalled to the starting line-up at would be Ben Isaacson. Will Glennon would be the defender to miss out dropping to the bench. The other player to revert to the bench would be Kai Williams who did everything but score at Stortford. The midfield looked strong with Inman, Coyle, Lewis and Fatadjo with Ismael ready to move forward in support of attacking duo York and Panter at every opportunity. The substitutes bench was completed by Andi Thanoj, Nathan Jeche and Kai Fifield with no place in the squad for Callum Powell.

Needham currently sit in seventh place on 42 points on the cusp of the play-off places with games in hand of the two teams ahead of them in the table. Their previous game saw them lose 1-0 away at resurgent Stamford.

It was a chill day but warmer than of late, however, more importantly it was dry. Needham have also suffered with postponements due to rain having played a single home match since Christmas. The pitch looked heavy and likely to cut up with the side opposite the main stand particularly boggy when it was shaded by the covered standing area.

Kettering, in their blue and white away kit, kicked off with the hosts in an all-red strip. Kettering started strongly pushing forward and closing down the hosts when not in possession. and immediately went onto the offensive. The first chance however, fell to Needham in the fourth minute. The hosts moved the ball well from the halfway line pushing Kettering back. A ball was played to the feet of a forward who showing nice skill, wrong footed the defence by flicking the ball forward for Hunter to latch onto but the forward wasted a good opening by sending his low shot wide of the near post.

Kettering were playing with confidence passing the ball around at the back with Alexander receiving back passes from both Forsyth and Andoh. However, this was a little too confidently for the travelling Poppies fans if truth be told who would rather see the team play football in their opponent’s half than on the edge of their own penalty area. Alexander had to hastily get rid of a pass from Andoh as he was closed down by a red shirt returning the ball back to Levi, who himself was quickly closed down. Andoh nonchalantly turned inside the onrushing opponent and started striding forward before playing the ball to Panter. Eddie looked up and fed a great angled ball forward inside the defender for Fatadjo to run onto in the space behind the defender. Ismael carried the ball into the penalty area but rather than take a shot squared the ball to Coyle on the opposite side of the box. Lewis took a touch to steady himself before shooting and that delay gave Bradbrook the chance to move across his goal and produce an excellent stop to keep the ball out. However, York was following up and was in perfect position to drill the loose ball home. 0-1 Kettering 7 mins

Three minutes later, it was panic stations in the Needham goalmouth as Rowe delivered a long-throw into the box. The ball was loose on the floor as Panter saw a shot blocked and ball fell to Inman who played the ball out wide to Rowe who returned the ball back into the middle where Andoh trapped the ball but saw his shot blocked by Hammond and going out for a throw-in as the chance petered out.

Nearly twenty minutes had been played when Needham swept forward with Smith doing good work down Kettering’s right. The ball was lifted into the penalty area and was at an awkward height as Forsyth tried to clear the ball lifting his foot to waist height in his attempt. He was faced up by Cowling who cried out in agony and, clutching his chest, fell to the floor. Mr Charles had no hesistation in awarding a penalty but did not caution the Kettering captain. Despite his cry of agony, the Needham man required no treatment and notwithstanding the muddy conditions underfoot, on regaining his feet displayed a pristine front of his shirt. Luke Ingram took responsibility for the penalty and efficiently fired it into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal giving Alexander little chance and leveling the score. 1-1 Needham 20 mins

After twenty-six minutes, Craig Charles injected some surreal humour into the match by producing the game’s first yellow card. With the ball out of play, York suprised by how mild the afternoon was, took off his shirt to enable him to remove his undershirt before replacing his shirt. The Referee, interpreting Law 12 but not the spirit, promptly booked Wes for removing his shirt as with over an hour left to play he assumed he was time wasting as he was not attempting to provoke the opposing team or fans or displaying a political message.

With Needham moving forward on the attack, a forward pass was intercepted by Isaacson who threaded though a perfect through ball for Panter to run onto. Running almost from the half-way line Eddie outran any persuers leaving him 1v1 against Bradbrook who he comprehensively beat from the edge of the penalty area tucking the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. 1-2 Kettering 28 mins

With just over ten minutes left in the half, Needham attacked down Kettering’s right with Cowling delivering a testing cross. Isaacson, with Neal lurking behind him, cut out the cross opting for safety first and putting it behind for the first corner of the match. The set piece was delivered by Hammond to the back post where Dan Morphew nodded the ball back into the middle where Maugue, presented with a free header 6 yards out, could only send his header over the bar.

Needham were finishing the half well and inside the the final five minutes of the half came very close to equalising when a low shot from 30 yards by Smith hit the outside of Alexander’s right-hand post with Jason beaten. Isaacson cleaned up by putting the ball out for a corner which was cleared by the head of Forsyth.

Two additional minutes would be played at the end of the half with the only action of note a shot from Hammond sent harlessly wide.
    

Half Time: Needham Market  1   Kettering Town 2

 Needham made two changes at half-time with Ollie Saunders replacing Dan Morphew and Max Appauh replacing Jaime Mauge.

The substitute nearly made an immediate impact when Andoh was guilty of loose pass which was cut out by Appauh who raced forward before trying a curling shot which was blocked away and cleared up by Coyle closing down Ingram making him put his shot wide.

Needham had come out for the second half looking for an equalising goal pressing forward at every opportunity. Five minutes into the half and Needham won a corner with all their big men coming up from the back. Hammond’s set piece was partially cleared but only to Ingram who saw his shot deflect off Inman for another corner. This time the corner was effectively dealt with by the defence which looked to clear the ball downfield but the ball carried through to the Needham keeper who returned the ball back from where it had come.

Kettering were not sitting back happy to let Needham come onto them and after fifty-five minutes a ball was played forward down the host’s left chased by Rowe. With the ball looking to be on the way-out Blaine persevered and managed to latch onto the ball but in no position to get in an effective cross played the ball off Smith to win a corner. The corner was lifted in and ended with Andoh heading the ball on before Panter  sent the ball into the side-netting.

Two minutes later and Andoh was involved at the other end fouling Cowling right on the edge of the penalty area inside the “D” pitch marking. Before the kick was taken Needham made their third substitution with Seth Chambers coming on for Myles Cowling. Ingram took the free kick but his low effort was wide of the goal.

Just before the hour mark prior to a Needham free-kick Alexander went to the floor requiring treatment from Michael Hunter. Jason showed no ill effects when the set piece was taken long by Morphew for Chambers to run onto but Alexander was alert to the threat and came to collect the ball. Almost immediately after a similar ball was sent towards Appauh but once again Jason beat the forward to the ball.

With a little under twenty minutes to go Kettering made their first change with Andi Thanoj replacing Alfie Lewis who had been guilty of misplacing passes when Kettering were breaking to relieve pressure. Needham made another change with goalscorer Luke Ingram making way for Reggie Lambe.

With seventeen minutes to go Mr Charles flourished his yellow card again this time at Andoh for taking too long over a throw-in.

Two minutes later, Needham had a good chance to equalise as Appauh got down the wing before picking out Neal in a central position some 8 yards out. He struck his shot well but the diving Alexander must have made a fingertip save to push it wide as a corner was awarded which came to nothing as Inman was fouled as the ball was swung in.

With  just under a quarter of an hour to play Needham made their final substitution with Peterborough loanee Fabian Claxton coming onto make his debut replacing Ben Hunter. Kettering made a double swap with Kai Williams replacing Eddie Panter and Will Glennon, Ryan Inman.

Needham won another corner with ten minutes to go as once again Appauh managed to deliver in a cross which was cut out by a defender at the expense of a corner. The ball was delivered into the middle and met by the head of Dye but his effort went up and over the bar.

Needham came forward again passing the ball well between them and the move was only halted by Coyle fouling Appauh conceding a free kick wide outside the penalty area and earning Lewis a booking. The free kick into the goalmouth led to a close range shot which was well saved by Alexander but the ball went behind for another corner which Kettering managed to defend and the ball went out for a Kettering throw in but any relief was short lived as Rowe was penalised for a foul throw conceding possession to the dominant hosts.

Desperate to hang on to their lead Kettering made another substitution with just over five minutes to go with the weary legs of Ismael Fatadjo being replaced by Nathan Jeche.

Shortly after, another dangerous ball played in by Appauh was put behind for a corner but before the set piece could be take the Assistant Referee drew the attention of Mr Charles who went over and booked Kettering’s Assistant Manger Nick Green for something he said. The corner was cleared by the defence but the ball came straight back at Kettering.

With time ticking away, Caxton was thwarted when a goal bound shot was cleared off the line and hacked away. The Referee indicated that Needham would have four minutes to rescue something from the game.

Kettering started the added time managing to take possession and string a few vital passes together but Andoh committed a cardinal sin of misplacing a pass and playing the ball into touch for a Needham throw-in. The tension had got to Needham and Hammond in space in the middle of the park overhit a ball and it ran all the way through to Alexander.

With three minutes played Needham lifted the ball into the Kettering penalty area where Alexander parried the ball away but straight to Saunders who wasted a good opportunity by sending the ball over the bar. 

Before the restart, Kettering made their final substitution with Blaine Rowe, who a little earlier had gone to the floor, being replaced by Kai Fifield with Wes York moving into the right-back position. The weary Kettering players were struggling with Michael Hunter coming on to see to a downed Kettering man.

The Referee was determined to give Needham time to score conscious of the time being eaten away by Kettering stalling tactics. With ninety-eight minutes on the clock, Andoh cut out a ball played forward by Needham. Levi headed the ball towards Glennon who fed the ball onto Jeche who ran forward with a single defender to beat. Running down Needham’s right, he took on the left-back turning the defender one way and then the other before cutting inside and firing in beautiful shot giving Bradbrook no chance and burying the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

 1-3 Kettering 98 mins

Mr Charles had still not seen enough and play continued but eventually he sounded the final whistle after at least ten additional minutes play consigning Needham to defeat and the Kettering celebrations to start.

 Full Time: Needham Market  1   Kettering Town 3

Another good three points won on the road. Every player contributed to a game winning performance including those who came on off the bench. The team is starting to play like a team with the incoming players buying into the mentality that the manager wants to install in the side. A good start with an early goal could have been undone with the penalty giving Needham a route back into the game but Kettering stayed positive and a brilliant solo goal regained the lead when the team could have settled for a point. The second half was notable for the determined defending by a team that was not going to surrender their hard earned advantage with Alexander having little to do until the closing stages thanks to the dogged performance by those in front of him and when he was called upon he gave a similar “they shall not pass” performance. The spirit in the squad appears to be building with the players playing for each other with the players who came on from the bench showing equal commitment. There are still many games to go in the season and if this sort of performance can be replicated consistently then the higher reaches of the league table are not beyond reach of the side.

Nathan Jeche’s first goal for the club will do the youngster’s confidence no harm at all and the assimilation of Ryan Inman into the side gives the team a little more bite in midfield.

 Needham Market yellow cards: none

 Kettering Town yellow cards:  York – removing shirt, Andoh – time wasting Coyle – foul.

                                                      Green (Assistant Manager) – dissent

Attendance : 408

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Ben Isaacson – Ben’s first MotM award since joining the club with him playing in a more conventional left-back role rather than wing-back. A steady performance gaining an assist for the second goal and looking assured in defence. Eddie Panter was the Supporters Bus selection with his brilliant goal and tireless running up front.