MATCH SUMMARY:
The points were shared in a game which was very scrappy and with little goalmouth incident. Both teams put in plenty of effort on a very wet pitch, which led to a general lack of quality. Connor Johnson put the Poppies into the lead on 80 minutes but soon turned from hero to villain as he conceded a penalty just four minutes later, which was converted by Bartosz Cybulski. This was the third consecutive game that Kettering have conceded a penalty.
THE KETTERING SQUAD:
Andi Thanoj was still not fit and Isiah Noel-Williams was unavailable. Luca Miller and Tyree Wilson started with Dan Jarvis reverting to the substitutes bench, which also included Lewis White after his concussion break.
THE TEAMS:
Spalding United:
1 Tony Breedon
2 Connor Brown (Captain)
3 Nathan Fox
4 Darnell Johnson
5 Sam Cartwright
6 Khanya Leshabela (14 Lewis Hilliard,62)
7 Dion Semble-Ferris (12 Theo Hudson,78)
8 Lamine Sheriff (16 Jonathan Ngandu,89)
9 Bartosz Cybulski
10 Kieron Freeman
11 Joseph Nyahwema (15 Glenn Walker,62)
Unused Substitute:
17 Connor Tomlinson
Yellow Cards: None
KETTERING TOWN
1 Dan Jezeph
2 Ben Hart
3 Aaron Powell
4 Devon Kelly-Evans
5 Connor Johnson (Captain)
7 Wes York
11 Tyree Wilson (9 Nile Ranger,75)
14 Harlain Mbayo
15 Gary Stohrer
17 Luca Miller
18 Jonny Edwards
Unused Substitutes:
6 Bruno Andrade
10 Dan Jarvis
12 Lewis White
19 Kai Fifield
Yellow cards: Hart,17; Edwards,55;Kelly-Evans,90.
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
With plenty of visiting fans, it turned out to be the Tulips highest home attendance of the season to date, as the game started under a blue sky and on a heavy and wet playing surface.
It was a lively start as the teams accustomed themselves to the conditions and an early low cross from Dion Semble-Ferris from the right slid across and wide of Dan Jezeph’s goal. A similar cross at the other end from Kettering’s Wes York was cleared away.
On 8 minutes, Luca Miller took a tumble in the Tulips’ penalty area, but it was not a penalty. Johnny Edwards headed wide Ben Hart’s cross a couple of minutes later as the Poppies pressed forward.
Spalding responded with a couple of efforts of their own as Khanya Leshabela hooked the ball high over the bar and a firm left foot volley from Darnell Johnson flashed through a mass of players and was well held by Jezeph.
There followed a 15-minute spell of midfield mediocrity as both teams huffed and puffed for little reward as the conditions took control.
On the half hour, Tyree Wilson went down in the penalty area, and this was more likely to be a penalty, but the Referee waived away any claims.
Ben Hart won an eventual fruitless corner on the right and, at the other end, Jezeph took a cross from the right under some pressure.
As the half time whistle approached, York, playing down the right, put in a great cross but it beat everyone.
Half Time:
Spalding United 0 – 0 Kettering Town
The start of the second half produced some much-needed action as, within a minute, Edwards was felled as he chased the ball -with no action from the Referee. Spalding broke away from this, and Semble-Ferris, looking a couple of yards offside, was allowed to continue and saw his cross find Bartosz Cybulski. The lofty striker fluffed his lines with a poor contact from a great position to score.
Cybulski next had a clear chance to score as he met a cross from the right with a clean header which was diverted wide for a corner.
The Poppies replied with some heavy pressure and York’s set up for Miller saw Tony Breedon save at the expense of a corner. Miller then had a good chance a few yards out but missed his kick.
With the clock clicking over the hour mark, Glenn Walker’s first touch, after coming on as substitute for Spalding, saw his left foot shot skew horribly wide. The Poppies replied as Connor Johnson got on the end of a Wilson cross but the effort was straight at Breedon.
On 65 minutes Harlain Mbayo did very well to deny home substitute Lewis Hilliard at the expense of a corner.
Now into the final 15 minutes of normal time, Kettering created a great chance after a set piece and as the ball pin-balled around in the Spalding penalty area, only some frantic defending denied a goal before Ben Hart rippled the side netting with a left foot shot.
Not to be denied though, Hart won a corner on the right and his delivery saw Connor Johnson unmarked as he headed the Poppies in front.
Spalding United 0 – 1 Kettering Town (80 minutes)
The lead lasted just four minutes. Fox had been largely restricted to defensive duties but finally got forward down the left and as he drove in towards goal he was brought down by Connor Johnson.
Cybulski slotted home the penalty.
Spalding United 1 – 1 Kettering Town (84 minutes)
In the remaining minutes, including five of added time, the only prospect of another goal came from Fox, but his free kick from 25 yards was high over the bar.
Full Time:
Spalding United 1 – 1 Kettering Town
Attendance: 935 (Kettering fans and officials estimated at 350)
Referee: Oliver Sadd; Assistant Referees: Richard May and Craig Forbes
Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Harlain Mbayo
FORTHCOMING HOME GAMES:
Thursday December 26th (Boxing Day): Biggleswade Town at 3pm
Saturday January 4th: Halesowen Town at 3pm
Saturday January 11th: Alvechurch at 3pm
Tuesday January 21st: Northampton Town (NFA Hillier Cup) (KO time tbc)
Forthcoming Away Games:
Saturday 28th December at Stratford Town at 3pm
Wednesday 1st January at Harborough Town at 3pm
Saturday 18th January at Redditch United at 3pm
Tuesday 28th January at Alvechurch at 7.45pm
