Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 14^th  February 2026  3:00pm

      Referee: Thomas Whay            Assistants: Benjamin Darken and Alexandru Birnea

A significant contingent of Kettering supporters travelled down the A14 to St Ives for the closest thing to a home match this year for Kettering. It would be the side’s third meeting of the season following a 1-0 defeat in the FA Trophy back in October and a goalless draw at Latimer Park in what was Liam McDonald’s first game in charge.

Liam McDonald was forced into changes to the squad which won three points at Needham Market by two departures. Firstly, Will Glennon, who has taken the opportunity to test himself at a higher level by joining Leamington Town, however, judging by their league position that could be short lived. A slightly longer journey has been made by Ryan Inman. Originally stated as to be with the club until the end of the season and having made two solid performances in the away wins at Bishop’s Stortford and Needham he has signed for an Australian team and moved overseas. With Wes York reporting sick on Saturday morning the Kettering squad was severely depleted to the extent that only four substitutes were available. Mr McDonald retained the flat back four in a 4-4-2 formation. Andi Thanoj took Inman’s place and Nathan Jeche would replace the poorly York. The substitutes bench comprised of the two Kai’s Williams and Fifield, Callum Powell and Preston Bitemo.

St Ives currently sit in fourteenth place on 32 points, 6 points and 2 places behind Kettering having played two more games. Their previous three game saw three defeats with their only points this year coming from a 2-2 home draw with strugglers Royston. Two former Poppies lined up for the Saints with the redoubtable Michael Richens captaining them along with being their top scorer. He was joined by Jonny Edwards, on loan from Hednesford. Discarded by Kettering and no doubt relishing the thought of scoring against his previous employers.

It was a mild day with no discernible wind with a bright sun and no prospect of rain from an almost cloudless sky.

Kettering in red shirts, white shorts and red socks kicked off defending the carpark end with the hosts in black and white striped shirts, black shorts and black socks. 

The first shot of the game came in the second minute with a long-distance effort from Lewis Coyle which was more of the threat to the wildlife in the trees behind the goal than the goal itself as it passed high over the bar.

Kettering had the best of the opening minutes with the game being played in the St Ives half and it was not until eight minutes had gone that the hosts ventured into the Kettering penalty area when a long throw from Smith was delivered deep inside the box. After initially allowed to bounce inside the area, Coyle cleared the ball away. Shortly after, the home supporter was in full voice when Richens went to ground in the Kettering box claiming a penalty which was treated with contempt by the Referee as play continued.

Nearly eleven minutes had been played when Panter was played in with a precise ball forward for him to run onto. Eddie struck a fierce shot aimed at the near post but Taylor was well positioned to palm the ball behind for the game’s first corner with a neat save. Coyle’s corner was not dealt with by the defence but Kettering could not manage to send the ball home. Andoh took possession and twisted and turned to keep the pressure on the massed ranks on defenders before off loading to Fatadjo. Ismael tried a shot but it was blocked with the ball returning to him who then played the ball forward where Jeche tapped it in from close range but the Assistant Referee had raised his flag for offside.

The game got it’s first yellow card just before the quarter hour mark when Aaron Smith came in late on Rowe sending him to the floor and requiring treatment from Michael Hunter. Mr Whay made it quite clear that such tackles would not be acceptable.

Kettering were still in command, and shortly after good work by Jeche and Coyle, saw the right-hand side of the St Ives defence tested. The ball was played back to Lewis who lifted a ball towards the far post. It was slightly too high for Jeche and Idehen the centre-half headed the ball away and the hosts looked to hit Kettering on a counterattack through Baker. Andoh was alert to the threat though and chased back to defend and on catching the forward dispossessed him and came away with the ball. Kettering continued attacking confidently stroking the ball around on the true surface with St Ives pinned back inside their own half with a majority of their players behind the ball. Thanoj switched play from one side to another swinging the ball out to Kettering’s right where Rowe took on his assailant Smith looking to get around him with pace to send in a cross. The defender stuck to his task though and managed to cut out the cross at the expense of a corner. Fatadjo’s corner was nodded on by Forsyth and fell to Panter near the penalty spot, who attempted a first-time half volley which fizzed narrowly over the bar.

  The game got it’s second booking after twenty-four minutes when Jeche was cut down by Lawlor in the middle of the park with little chance of getting the ball. Once again Mr Whay stamped his authority on the match by swiftly showing the yellow card. The offender bore the number 14 on his shirt but 17 on his shorts which interestingly enough the Referee did not enforce a resolution of at half-time.

The resulting free kick was lifted into the St Ives penalty area where a miscue from Creary gifted Kettering with an unexpected corner. Fatadjo’s corner was put behind for another corner but on the opposite side causing Ismael to trot across the width of the pitch to take it. This corner was delivered towards the far post from where Panter headed it down into the middle of the goal. A defender on the goal-line appeared to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net with his arm but it could have been considered to be in a natural position however the ball might have passed over the line anyway. The Assistant Referee thought otherwise and play continued resulting in a St Ives break leading to their first corner of the game. A disgusted Panter related his version of the goal-mouth incident to Mr Whey. The Referee after consulting his Assistant did not concur with Eddie’s version of events and booked Panter for dissent.

The corner came to nothing and Kettering broke quickly through their midfield players. Probing for an opening Coyle pulled the ball back from the by-line low towards the penalty spot. Lewis  bearing down on the ball was pulled back from behind by Richens and Mr Whay immediately awarded a penalty. With the departure of regular taker Glennon, Panter took responsibility and produced a textbook spot kick sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-1 Kettering 30 mins

St Ives were stung into a response and provided one by moving the ball down field from the restart and winning a corner. Lawlor delivered a low trajectory ball across the pitch towards the back post where the open Idehen failed to convert a golden opportunity to provide a quick riposte sending his header well wide from close range.

After the glaring miss St Ives were level shortly after. A hopeful hook forward by Richens was chased by Baker who had managed to get goal side of Isaacson. Alexander came out of his goal but Baker got his foot under the ball and lobbed it goal-wards where it bounced just inside of the far post and just under the bar. 1-1 St Ives 33 mins

The equaliser appeared to instill some self-belief into St Ives as after being under the cosh for the first thirty minutes of the match started playing football of their own rather than reacting to Kettering’s possession.

With five minutes left in the half a long throw by the hosts saw Edwards break free and bear down on the Kettering goal but a great recovery tackle by Andoh saw him steal the ball off the foot of the former Kettering player as he was just about to pull the trigger.

It would be Levi’s last contribution to the game as shortly after he went to ground causing the Referee to hold up play as Andoh received treatment from Michael Hunter. It became clear that Levi could not continue and Kettering were forced into who appeared to have hamstring problems. early substitution with Bitemo coming on to replace Andoh.

In the remaining time of the half together with three additional minutes to be played nothing of note occured apart a booking for Richens for a push in the back innocous on it’s own but a yellow card for an accumlation of offenses.

 
 Half Time: St Ives Town  1   Kettering Town 1

Neither side made any personnel changes at half-time but St Ives came out with a purpose and looked to take the game to Kettering.

Early in the half McKoy picked the ball up on the half-way line and weaved his way forward before laying the ball off to his left to Richens, who saw his shot deflect behind for a corner. Alexander easily collected the set piece.

Ten minutes into the half and there were two consecutive shots from ex-poppies. Firstly, a shot from 30 yards by Edwards was comfortably handled by Alexander. Directly after, Richens attempted a half volley from the edge of the penalty area which once again was taken easily enough by Alexander.

Just before the hour mark Kettering retook the lead when Forsyth played a long ball forward from mid-way inside his own half. Panter, who had managed to get goal side of his marker, ran onto the ball and from the edge of the penalty lifted the ball up and over Taylor and into the middle of the empty net. 1-2 Kettering 58 mins

Unlike after falling behind in the first half, St Ives failed to repond positively and Kettering took control of the game starting to press forward as they did in the first half.

Panter was causing the host’s defence all sorts of problems as evidenced after sixty-one minutes when Idehen brought Eddie down with a terrible foul causing him to be the fourth St Ives player to go into the book with a very late tackle that was bordering on a red.

A couple of minutes later, Bitemo brought the ball out of defence and played an exquisite ball forward for Fatadjo to run onto threading the ball through the inside of the left back. Ismael let the ball run into the penalty area befor hitting a first time left footed shot low to Taylor’s left but the keeper produced a great save to keep Kettering out.

On sixty-six minutes, it was Panter again looking to break free running onto a ball through from Coyle but he jumped the gun and was flagged offside as he put his shot wide. Before play restarted Kettering made their second substitution after sixty-six minutes when Callum Powell replaced Nathan Jeche who’d performed well in his first start at this higher level.

With twenty minutes to go, Lewis received a booking following a mis-timed tackle. From the free-kick St Ives forced a throw-in deep inside Kettering’s half. Once again Smith delivered a long throw into the penalty area with the ball falling to Baker, but he spooned the chance high over the bar from a few yards out.

With just over a quarter of an hour to play, St Ives made their first change with Reuben Wyatt replacing Jernade Meade.

St Ives had not thrown the towel in and swept forward in a fine passing movement which was halted by a fine tackle by Thanoj deep inside his own half.

The game had become incredibly open now with each side attacking in turn. Kettering moved forward leading to a shot from Bitemo which was well blocked by a defender which allowed St Ives to regain possession and start an attack of their own lifting the ball forward to Edwards. He was quickly closed down by Forsyth but the forward went to the floor with the merest contact from George which was penalised by the Referee with the awarding of a free kick. Before Forsyth had the chance to retreat from the ball, Edwards took the set piece with no St Ives players in position by kicking it straight at George earning the Kettering captain a caution for delaying the restart. The retaken free kick was sent straight into the hands of Alexander.

Alexander sent the ball down the pitch to Panter who trapped the ball and flicked outside to Powell. Callum advanced down the wing taking on the full back and sending over a deep cross. It evaded defenders and looked to be going out for a throw-in on the opposite side before Fatajdo chased a seemingly lost cause. He collected the ball and fed it back to Bitemo who had come up in support. Once again Preston threaded through a wonderful ball between defenders for Lewis to run onto inside the penalty area. Alfie from about 6 yards out squared the ball inside for Panter to steal between two static defenders to slide the ball home for his hat-trick.1-3 Kettering 78 mins.

With victory seemingly secured and with a paper-thin squad Liam McDonald made a double substitution withdrawing both Panter and Fatadjo who often get rough treatment from the opposition. The two Kai’s Williams and Fifield replaced them. At the same time St Ives also made a double substitution with Alfie Shepherd and Kellan Hickinson replacing Creary and Richens.

Kettering, with a two-goal cushion, were content to play the game out playing within themselves not looking to present the hosts with a route back into the game.

In the six extra minutes to be played after the ninety, both sides created a chance to add to the scoring. After three of them Fifield intercepted a cross-field pass mid-way inside his own half. He carried the ball forward with pace surging into the St Ives penalty area before firing across the keeper aimed towards the far post only to be denied a deserved goal with a excellent save from Taylor.

Just before the final whistle Edwards had another effort from the edge of the penalty area but this was nonchalantly palmed away by Alexander to enable him to run some more time off the clock before picking the ball up.

 Full Time: St Ives Town  1   Kettering Town 3

Another three points won on the road making it three in a row. If Kettering can produce this form when they catch up on their outstanding home matches the season is far from over.

 St Ives Town yellow cards: Smith, Lawlor – foul Richens – persistent foul play

 Kettering Town yellow cards:  Panter – dissent, Lewis – foul, Forsyth – preventing restart

 Attendance: 445

 Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Eddie Panter – The easiest MotM decision of the season following a fine hat-trick. These 3 goals propels Eddie to the club’s top scorer list displacing Ranger. Eddie’s performance was more than just goals his tireless running and harrying of the St Ives defender’s gave them no rest all afternoon allowing his teammates space and time to control the game. Since his arrival at the club his performances have shown the supporters what they have been missing by having a hungry for goals forward in the team.