Match Report Redditch Utd vs KTFC 18 Jan 2025

MATCH SUMMARY:

The Poppies had the major amount of possession in this game but went into the interval in a losing position and lost the game 3-2 after 9 minutes of added time. Redditch took the lead through Johnny Johnston right on half time but Kettering went ahead within four minutes of the restart with goals from Devon Kelly-Evans and Isiah Noel-Williams. Redditch quickly drew level, again through Johnston, and won the game on 80 minutes when Kyle Rowley headed in from a corner.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

Skipper Connor Johnson and Andi Thanoj both returned after injury. Kia Fifield was originally named in the team but was injured in the warmup an replaced by Tyree Wilson. Harlain Mbayo reverted to the bench along with Terell Pennant.

THE TEAMS:

REDDITCH UNITED:
1 Oliver Taylor
2  Brad Burton
3  Jack Kelly
4  Kartell Dawkins (18 Finn Flanagan,62)
5  Kyle Rowley
6  Macaulay King
7  Johnny Johnston (15 Marvellous Onabirekhanlen,88)
9  Ade Yussuf (20 Ryan Boothe,77)
11 Ryan Inman (10 Nicholas Clayton-Phillips,77)
17 Dylan Thomas
19 Joel Shambrook

Unused Substitute:
14 George Atwal

Yellow Card: Shambrook,73.

KETTERING TOWN

1  Dan Jezeph
2  Ben Hart
3  Aaron Powell
4  Devon Kelly-Evans
5 Connor Johnson (Captain)
8 Andi Thanoj
11 Tyree Wilson
12 Lewis White
16 Isiah Noel-Williams
18 Jonathan Edwards (9 Nile Ranger,68)
20 Callum Powell (10 Terrell Pennant,74)

Unused Substitutes:
7 Wes York
14 Harlain Mbayo
17 Luca Miller

Yellow Card: Johnson,77

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

It was a cold day at the Valley stadium as the game commenced on the 3G surface.

Kettering started brightly with Callum Powell crossing dangerously from the left and this was scrambled away. Then Ben Hart went on a run from the right to shoot but the effort was over the bar.

Redditch got out of their half, at last, after eight minutes and former Poppy, Ade Yussuf saw his shot blocked by Aaron Powell. The Poppies kept coming forward and Devon Kelly-Evans’ cross was met by Jonny Edwards and the resultant goal bound header was pushed over the bar by Redditch keeper, Oliver Taylor. Hart then got in another cross and this time Edwards’ header was over the target.

Ty Wilson was looking sharp on the right and Taylor did well to take his cross from that side. Another flowing move down the right saw Kelly-Evans in a great shooting position but the effort sailed out of the ground. More Kettering pressure forced a corner but progress was halted by a Kettering foul.

It was still all Kettering and Edwards met a Noel-Williams cross but poked his shot gently at Taylor.

Redditch had a brief spell around the half hour mark and a handball by Lewis White gave Jack Kelly a set piece shot at goal, which was blocked by the defensive wall.

Another Kettering chance came on 35 minutes as Callum Powell collected a clearance from a corner. However, his low shot was wide. In the next minute, Powell did get a shot on target which hit a defender and flew narrowly over the bar.

The home side’s best chance to date in the 40th minute saw Johnny Johnston’s shot pushed wide for a corner. The Poppies soon responded with a one-two between Wilson and Noel-Williams and the Wilson shot was pushed over the bar by Taylor. Connor Johnson met the subsequent corner with a firm header which went wide.

Kettering were stunned right on half time as Redditch took the lead. Callum Powell lost the ball in midfield to Johnston and the young speedster romped through the Kettering defence to finish well past Jezeph.

Half Time:

Redditch United    1   –   0      Kettering Town

There were no player changes at the start of the half. However, within four minutes Kettering were 2-1 in front. Firstly, a neat one-two between Kelly-Evans and Wilson saw Kelly-Evans’ low shot beat Taylor and barely a minute later, a cross from Callum Powell on the left was poked in by Noel-Williams.

(Redditch  1  –  2  Kettering – 49 minutes)

However, in the next Redditch push forward, visiting keeper, Jezeph, made a hash of a catch on a lob forward with the loose ball falling to Johnston who rolled the ball into the empty net.

(Redditch  2  –  2  Kettering- 53 minutes)

The Poppies tried to reply quickly and a Wilson run and cross saw Callum Powell glance his effort wide. In the next attack, Wilson had a great shooting chance but his left foot drive was just wide of the right post.

The game settled a little at this point and the ball spent long periods in possession of the visitors with the home defence coping well. Redditch did get into the Kettering half as Yussuf’s cross was held by Jezeph at the second attempt.

What turned out to be the decisive goal came in simple form on 80 minutes as Jack Kelly’s deep corner from the right saw Kyle Rowley at the back post and his unchallenged header somehow crept in at the far post.

( Redditch 3-2 Kettering – 80 minutes)

Terell Pennant had come on for the injured Callum Powell and Taylor did well to save his low shot. The loose ball fell to Nile Ranger, who had replaced Edwards, and Ranger’s follow up shot was deflected just over the bar from an outstretched defender’s leg.

In the final minutes, the Poppies laid siege to the Redditch goal with Redditch players falling injured at regular intervals to break up play.

Pennant had a low shot well saved; Noel-Williams saw his shot saved as he met another Wilson cross. Redditch defenders threw their bodies in to defy any Kettering shots and Pennant created another opening but saw his shot cleared away in the final seconds.

Full Time:

Redditch United     3   –  2     Kettering Town

Attendance: (to be confirmed but believed 521 with Kettering fans estimated at 200 )

Referee: Tom Wall ; Assistant Referees: Jonathon Hodgson and Daniel Parks

Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Tyree Wilson

FORTHCOMING HOME MATCHES:

Tuesday January 21st: Northampton Town (NFA Hillier Cup) at 7.45pm

Saturday January 25th:  Bromsgrove Sporting at 3pm

Saturday February 8th: Barwell FC at 3pm

Tuesday February 25th: Halesowen Town at 7.45pm

Forthcoming Away Matches:

Tuesday 28th January: Alvechurch at 7.45pm

Saturday 1st February :AFC Sudbury at 3pm

Tuesday 4th February: Banbury United at 7.45pm

Saturday 15th February: Stourbridge at 3pm

Friday 21st February: Bedford Town at 7.45pm

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