Worcester City  v  Kettering Town

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday  6th September 2025 3:00 pm

Referee:   Alex  Rolfe                                    Assistants:                                                      

Kettering’s away league campaign continued with a visit to another newly promoted club, Worcester City. City won the Northern Premier League Midland Division play-off final beating Corby Town to make the step up. Before the FA Cup break, they sat in 14^th place with 1 win 2 draws and 2 defeats. Their only win of the season so far was a outstanding 3-0 win at Halesowen on Bank Holiday Monday.

Simon Hollyhead had a depleted squad to choose from. Leon Lobjoit, after his FA Cup hat-trick, would be a late withdrawal suffering from an illness currently within the camp. Jamar Loza, having been prevented from training in the week, rose from his sick bed to offer his services but was not capable of providing a full contribution to the team effort. The departure of Finlay Corrigan following in the footsteps of Lewis White in a desire for regular football saw a Kettering bench of only 4 players with the fitness of Loza being questionable. Without Nile Ranger deciding to stay the club’s resources would have been exceedingly stretched. The absence of any youth set up leaves the squad in a precarious state if any further injuries were to be sustained by the starting XI. Ranger was the only out and out forward  with a five-man midfield and a flat back four defence. Wes York dropped to the bench along with Levi Andoh who was taken off against Long Eaton in a precautionary move with his 100% fitness questionable.

The day was overcast but warm with negligible wind with the sun coming out from behind the clouds on the dot of 3pm.

Kettering in their red and black strip kicked off on the hybrid plastic/grass pitch with Worcester in broad blue and white striped shirts with blue shorts and socks.

Inside the first minute, Kettering probed down Worcester’s left and Oppong sent Barker on the overlap sent over a dangerous cross into the middle but it was fractionally too high for Ranger to get his head on it. The visitors kept the pressure on. Less than two minutes later, were attacking down the opposite flank through Stanley who was fouled on his advance but the Referee waved for play to continue playing the advantage. Connor slipped the ball outside to Flynn on the overlap who continued going forwards before sending a low ball in towards the middle of the penalty area which was turned behind for a corner in front of the Kettering travelling supporters. The corner taken short by Barker was returned to him by Stanley but the resulting cross was put behind for another corner. This time Brandon delivered the ball towards the near post but Forsyth could only return the ball to Barker before the attack broke down.

Despite Kettering having the best of the opening stages it was the hosts who produced the first shot on target of the game after ten minutes when Rowe sent an effort straight at Alexander.

Very little of note occurred until twenty minutes had been played when there was a break in play for treatment to Flynn. Worcester had played a long ball out of defence which Shane had jumped for to try and head away. With the ball 6 feet in the air, the Worcester player alongside Flynn stuck his leg out towards the defender catching him on his shin causing him to fall and the awarding of a free kick to Kettering.

Three minutes later, Flynn was back in action carrying the ball out of defence and into Worcester’s half before guiding the ball outside to Stanley to run at the right-back Palmer. Connor twisted and turned the defender and was just going past him when Hamilton stepped in dispossessing Stanley at the expense of a corner. The set piece was taken far too long and Barker did enough to prevent it going out for a throw-in on the opposite side. He recycled the ball but poor control from Oppong allowed Hamilton to make a safety-first clearance. Thanoj looked to be under the ball but his poor touch allowed Miles to collect the ball and leave Flynn facing a 2v1 some 25 yards out from goal. The defender lost his footing as Miles ran across the pitch with  Rowe racing up in support to his right. As Miles passed Shane sitting on the pitch stuck out a foot in an attempt to get the ball merely caught the player, who too his credit did not go down, and pushed the ball towards Rowe. He had though drifted into an off-side position and the Linesman signalled offside before the Referee sounded his whistle the forward fired in a powerful first time shot from the angle of the 6-yard box but Alexander had made himself big and swatted the ball behind with a good save. The Referee however brought the ball back for the trip by Flynn, booking the defender, and awarding Worcester a free kick in a central position some 20 yards out. The free kick was wasted by Miles sending it high over the bar.

Just before half an hour had been played there was a flash point right in front of the Kettering bench. Barker was advancing down the touchline when Palmer approached from behind and dispossessed the forward leaving the ball loose on the ground. Stanley raced forward to claim possession but Palmer performed a sliding tackle on the stationary ball and managed to make very little contact on the ball but enough on Connor to send him to the floor. Lewis, who was only a few yards from the incident, objected to the nature of Palmer’s challenge and wanted to explain his feeling to the Worcester man. The Referee halted play to nip any potential trouble in the bud with members of the Kettering coaching staff also voicing their opinions. The Referee defused the situation with just a word or two to the two players and both benches before restarting play with a drop ball.

The game got it’s second caution after thirty-three minutes when Stanley was pulled back by Ceesay when Connor was about to show him a clean pair of heels just inside the Worcester’s half.

Shortly after, Worcester were on the attack and Belmonte set up Lockett on the edge of the box with room to shoot but it struck Glennon and went behind for a corner which came to nothing. Kettering responded with an attack of their own with Crowther carrying the ball out of defence and playing the ball to Barker midway inside Worcester’s half. Bradon squared the ball to Flynn who tried a shot from just outside the penalty but it passed a couple of feet over the bar. A minute later, a good Kettering move saw Stanley feed the ball outside to Oppong on the right wing. Eddie took the ball past Lymn but could only direct his shot into the side netting.

As the game entered the final five minutes of regulation time Kettering won a corner but it came to nothing however, it sparked a quick break for the hosts through Miles. He picked out Rowe with a pass to feet but the forward put his shot from long range well wide. Rowe was involved moments later when he pulled back Thanoj with an outstretched arm in mid-field, conceding a free-kick and being booked for the foul.

The free kick was played forward to Ranger who fed the ball outside to Stanley who ran at and got past Palmer but once again Hamilton was covering and conceded a corner. The set piece swung in by Stanley saw Price, the Worcester keeper, come to collect but he misjudged the flight of the ball and was fortunate that Ceesay was on hand to clear his fumble. The host’s worked the ball up field leading to Lockett pressing forward with the ball and testing Alexander with a shot from 10 yards out which Jason did well to turn behind for a corner. The kick was delivered long to the far post where Hamilton managed to evade Glennon, his marker, getting goal side of the Kettering man to poke the ball home from close range. 1-0 Worcester 45 mins

From the restart the ball was played back to Flynn who carried the ball forward with purpose deep into the Worcester half before slipping the ball outside to Stanley who once again ran at Palmer. Cutting inside of the defender he aimed a curling shot to the far side top corner. Hamilton got a toe on the ball which succeeded in taking the ball away from Price and onto the head of Ranger who had the simple task of nodding the ball home with only 18 seconds between kick-off and the ball hitting the back of the net. 1-1 Kettering 45+1 mins

No further action of note occurred before Mr Rolfe sounded the half time whistle.

    Half Time:  Worcester City  1  Kettering Town 1 

Kettering made one change at half time with Wes York replacing Brandon Barker.

Worcester made the better start to the second half and Glennon had to be alert to cut out a ball played forward for Miles, heading it back to Alexander. Nearly fifty minutes had been played when the hosts won a corner breaking forward after a free kick for Kettering up the other end had been frittered away. Kettering cleared the corner but Worcester retained possession and came straight back on the attack with Rowe running at Flynn. The forward pushed the ball past Shane but then tried to run through the defender winning himself a free kick between the edge of the penalty area and the touchline with Flynn unable to avoid contact. Miles swung the kick in towards the near post where Hayward sent a header high over the bar.  

Ten minutes of the half had been played when Crowther was penalised for a foul giving Worcester a free kick about 20 yards out wide on Kettering’s right. The ball was played square to Belmonte but he sent his shot high and wide.

Kettering’s first real attack of the second period came on the hour mark when a high ball from defence was played forward for York to run on to. It was at an awkward height for Wes and he could only chest the ball up into a looping trajectory to stop it going behind. Price was quickly off his line and lunging forward dive managed to get a two-fisted punch on the ball in front of York. Kettering kept up the pressure winning a corner which led to a shot from Lewis from the edge of the area deflecting behind for another corner which came to nothing.

With twenty minutes of the half gone, a high clearance from Palmer came down near Belmonte in the middle of the park, he guided a header into the path of Miles, who raced into open space down Kettering’s left before crossing the ball deep into the visitor’s penalty area where Rowe guided the ball to the feet of Belmonte but his first time shot was weak and straight at Alexander.

Three minutes later Worcester cut open the Kettering defence but the final ball into the penalty area by Lockett failed to find a blue shirt allowing Kettering, under pressure once again, to clear the ball long, where it was picked up by Stanley just inside his own half. With little support his only option was to carry the ball forward on his own which he did at pace. On reaching the edge of the penalty area, his shot was also lacking in power and was directed straight at the keeper.

Worcester were looking the most likely to break the deadlock and they made good progress down Kettering’s right when Belmonte set Lockett free into acres of space on Kettering’s right on the overlap. From out wide, he picked out Hayward on the edge of the box but despite having time and space could only send his shot over the bar with the ball rising from the moment it left his foot.

With just over twenty minutes remaining, Price in the Worcester goal went down with an “injury” prompting his teammates to go to the bench to receive instructions from their management disregarding Mr Rolfe requesting them to stay on the pitch before calling a drinks break to save face. During the stoppage, Kettering made their second substitution of the afternoon with Kai Fifield replacing Shane Flynn.

Fifield’s first action of note came six minutes after coming on when he was passing Hayward on a surging run just inside the Worcester’s half where the player reached out and just pulled Kai to the floor winning Kettering a free-kick and Hayward a yellow card. The resulting free kick by Thanoj was passed around by Kettering ending up with Stanley on Worcester’s right who after some twisting and turning was tripped resulting in another free kick this time on the angle of the penalty box. Glennon took a direct pot at goal but did not test the keeper with a poor effort.

With thirteen minutes remaining, Worcester made their first substitution with Niall Flint replacing the booked Teddy Rowe.

Two minutes later, Worcester once again had success down Kettering’s right with this time Belmonte being the beneficiary being set free by Ceesay. Bearing down on the Kettering goal he spurned the opportunity of squaring the ball to Lockett better placed to his right and elected to send a fierce shot goalwards which did not trouble Alexander.

As the game entered it’s final ten minutes, Worcester were awarded a free kick very close to the corner flag in Kettering’s half when Glennon pushed the attacker who gladly took the opportunity to go to the floor. The set piece from Miles was directed towards the near post from where Ceesay whose header looked goal bound before Thanoj intervened sending the ball behind for a corner which was headed away Ranger. It would be his contribution to the game as at the next opportunity he would be substituted making way for Jamar Loza.

The introduction of Loza changed the dynamic of the Kettering forward line looking to have more pace running at the host’s defence with a move involving Stanley, Loza and Fifield resulting in a chance for Oppong whose curling shot went narrowly wide.

As the ninety minutes expired, Worcester looked to secure their first home win of the season winning a corner. This was delivered into the penalty area where neither side could get a definitive touch on the ball which ping ponged around the area with a bout of head tennis. Worcester finally got the ball on the floor and attempted to get to the touchline to get around the edge of the Kettering defence but the cross was put behind by a Kettering foot for another corner. This one though was confidently claimed by Alexander who bowled the ball out to initiate a quick Kettering counterattack through Stanley. Connor played a 1-2 with Oppong and was cutting inside towards the Worcester penalty area passing Downing but Worcester’s captain just reached out an arm and pulled the forward back conceding a free kick. Downing joined his three teammates in the book all for the same offence of pulling players back.

The free kick was taken short and Loza attempted to dance past three defenders but he was crowded out and the ball was bundled away. However, the ball fell to Oppong on the edge of the area but his shot passed narrowly over the bar bouncing off the roof of the net. This was virtually the last kick of the game with Mr Rolfe calling a halt to proceedings as Price cleared the ball.

   Full Time: Worcester City  1   Kettering Town  1 

A point on the road for Kettering in a tightly fought game which saw Alexander the busier of the two goalkeepers. Worcester will see it as two points lost creating numerous chances but ultimately failing to convert them obtaining a result which they would have no doubt settled for at three o’clock. Kettering looked fairly toothless up front missing the attacking skills and pace of Lobjoit and Loza. Kettering’s defence looked fragile at times with Worcester relying on attacking down  the flanks which paid dividends for them generating all their scoring opportunities. Up coming opponents for Kettering will see this clearly in the video highlights and will look to exploit this weakness especially Quorn in the cup.

Worcester City yellow cards:   Ceesay, Rowe, Hayward, Downing – fouls    

Kettering Town yellow cards:  Flynn – foul                                                                       

Attendance: 1112

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Connor Stanley – 100% effort for the entire 90 minutes showing boundless energy and proving Kettering’s only sustained attacking resource with his fellow forwards having quiet afternoons.