MATCH SUMMARY:
If you were a neutral at this game- it was a great game.
If you were a Kettering fan pre match, you would have taken a draw against the team in 4th place in the League table.
If you were a Stratford fan you would have been hopeful of beating the League leaders after a great result at Alvechurch on Thursday.
In actuality, on the day, this was a game which Kettering should have won and which Stratford did exceptionally well to get a draw.
With the Poppies dominating the first half, taking the lead on 12 minutes, seeing the Bards reduced to 10 men after 40 minutes and having a penalty at the same time, the visiting fans were confident. The penalty turned out to be a turning point as home keeper, and their man of the match, Jake Weaver, easily saved Jonny Edwards’ spot kick.
This was quickly followed by an equaliser for Stratford on 43 minutes from Callum Ebanks.
The second period saw Kettering regain the lead through Lewis White on 50 minutes only to go 2-3 down by the 72nd minute after goals from Owen James and Ebanks again. Callum Powell brought it level six minutes later and Kettering had late chances to win but the game ended all square.
THE TEAMS:
STRATFORD TOWN:
1 Jake Weaver
2 Daniel Vann
3 Finley Brennan
4 Josh Hawker (14 Lewis Wilson,89)
5 Paul McCone (Captain)
6 Babatomiwa Solanke (11 Ashley Sammons,90+3)
8 Lewis Ludford-Ison
9 Callum Ebanks (7 Jack Stohrer,90+6)
10 Daniel Lafferty
16 Owen James (20 Charlie Williams,86)
19 William Bapaga (12 Harry Leeson,42)
Unused Substitutes:
None
Yellow Cards: McCone,36; Solanke,85.
Red Card: Brennan,40
KETTERING TOWN
1 Dan Jezeph
2 Ben Hart
3 Aaron Powell
4 Devon Kelly-Evans
5 Connor Johnson (Captain) (14 Harlain Mbayo,70)
11 Tyree Wilson (19 Kai Fifield,46)
12 Lewis White
15 Gary Stohrer
16 Isiah Noel-Williams (7 Wes York,73)
18 Jonny Edwards (9 Nile Ranger,65)
20 Callum Powell
Unused Substitute:
17 Luca Miller
Yellow cards: Johnson,45+2; White,61;Kelly-Evans,90+5, Lavery
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
In line with most of the country today, it was cold and a little misty at the Arden Garages Stadium, and the playing surface was good.
In just the second minute, a lapse from Kettering’s Ben Hart gave Callum Ebanks an opening but he lost control as he advanced on goal. Then the lively Owen James got a shot in but it was well wide.
The Poppies then dominated most of the half with some controlled and attacking football. Devon Kelly-Evans fired wide and Hart tried his luck with a direct free kick but Jake Weaver dived low to save.
Lewis White snuffed out a break by James before Kettering took the lead in the 12th minute. Callum Powell’s cross from the left was bundled out for a corner and Hart’s delivery was headed in by Gary Stohrer off the right post.
Stratford 0 – 1 Kettering (12 minutes).
Another Hart free kick was hastily cleared after Isiah Noel-Williams was brought down. Callum Powell’s searching cross from the left was well held by Weaver and the keeper then excelled as he pushed away Noel-Williams’ shot for a corner.
It was all Kettering at this stage. Weaver then made a great save as Jonny Edwards met a Callum Powell cross, diving across goal to somehow keep out the header.
A now rare Stratford break saw Ebanks caught offside as he looked to get free.
On 40 minutes, a Stohrer pass set Tyree Wilson clear on goal on the right. As he closed in on goal, he was brought down by Fin Brennan who was sent off. Edwards’ penalty was poor and Weaver saved with ease.
Kettering were made to pay and Ebanks got clear and chipped the ball over the advancing Dan Jezeph for the equaliser.
Stratford 1 – 1 Kettering (43 minutes).
There was a further late chance for the Bards as Dan Lafferty fired over.
Half Time:
Stratford Town 1 – 1 Kettering Town
Kettering brought on Kai Fifield for Tyree Wilson at the start of the half.
There was soon a let off for Kettering as skipper, Connor Johnson miscued a clearance but the ball fell kindly for Jezeph to pick up. At the other end, Weaver saved again, this time from Kelly-Evans
The Poppies re-took the lead on 50 minutes. Intense pressure in the Stratford penalty area saw Fifield’s effort blocked and Lewis White coolly fired in.
Stratford 1 – 2 Kettering (50 minutes).
Stratford were by no means out of the game, relying on quick breaks by James and Ebanks. This tactic paid off as James got the better of White and lobbed his shot over Jezeph and in for the equaliser.
Stratford 2 – 2 Kettering (62 minutes)
The Poppies responded straight away. Kelly-Evans raced clear and beat Weaver with his shot only for substitute Harry Leeson to clear off the line. Kettering followed up with a Fifield shot which cannoned off a defender.
As stress levels mounted, the Referee showed a yellow card to visiting Manager, Richard Lavery for coming out of his technical area to retrieve a ball.
To their great credit Stratford took the lead. James got clear on the right and his low cross was converted by Ebanks.
Stratford 3 – 2 Kettering (72 minutes)
The Poppies were stunned and had to respond. Callum Powell saw his 76th minute free kick come off the top of the crossbar. But a couple of minutes later, he scored the equaliser. Great Kettering pressure saw shots blocked, an appeal for a handball and frantic home defending. A shot was cleared off the line and Powell coolly fired home.
Stratford 3 – 3 Kettering (78 minutes)
The Poppies laid siege to the Bards goal in the final minutes. Powell went clear and the shot was deflected wide with Fifield trying to force the ball home it hit the side netting. A corner won by Callum Powell was hacked away and Weaver saved again – this time from Fifield. Kelly-Evans fired wide and late corners were cleared by an overworked home defence as they brought on four substitutes to replace tired legs.
Full Time:
Stratford Town 3 – 3 Kettering Town
Attendance:1664 (Kettering fans and officials estimated at 500)
Referee: Luke Bowles; Assistant Referees: Danny Meers and Matthew Joyce
Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Aaron Powell
FORTHCOMING HOME GAMES:
Saturday January 4th: Halesowen Town at 3pm
Saturday January 11th: Alvechurch at 3pm
Tuesday January 21st: Northampton Town (NFA Hillier Cup) (KO time tbc)
Saturday January 25th: Bromsgrove Sporting at 3pm
Forthcoming Away Games:
Wednesday 1st January at Harborough Town at 3pm
Saturday 18th January at Redditch United at 3pm
Tuesday 28th January at Alvechurch at 7.45pm
