MATCH SUMMARY
After a pretty equal first half when both teams had their chances, the Poppies produced a dominant second half performance to win the game 2-0. Goals from Nile Ranger after 62 minutes, from the penalty spot, and Terrell Pennant on 82 minutes sealed the win. Captain, Connor Johnson, suffered what looked like a calf injury after 26 minutes and had to leave the field.
THE KETTERING SQUAD
Changes saw Luca Miller, Lewis White, Kyle Storer, Tyree Wilson and Nile Ranger start in a different formation. Wes York and Andi Thanoj were on the bench, with Aaron Powell, Fin Wilkinson and Kai Fifield rested.
THE TEAMS
Bishop’s Stortford:
1 Elliot Krasniqi
5 Jake Thompson (Captain)
6 Mark Haines
9 Nahum Melvin-Lambert(8 Gary Cohen,75)
10 Brad Russell
11 Rawshawn Scott
12 Fabio Virciglio(7 Charlie Castle,75)
14 Luke Chalwell
15 Ryan Charles (17 Presley Evans,63)
16 Jaden Oqwuazor
20 Zack Howell
Unused Substitutes: 3 Harry Forde, 19 Eyituoyo Akinbulumo.
Yellow Cards: Haines,62; Russell,66; Evans,72.
KETTERING TOWN:
1 Dan Jezeph
2 Ben Hart
4 Devon Kelly-Evans
5 Connor Johnson (Captain) (7 Wes York,26)
6 Alex Gudger
9 Nile Ranger (18 Jonny Edwards,85)
11 Tyree Wilson (10 Terrell Pennant,79)
12 Lewis White
15 Kyle Storer
17 Luca Miller (14 Sam McLintock,59
20 Jamar Loza
Unused Substitute: 8,Andi Thanoj
Yellow Card: Loza,52
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
It was a warm and sunny day at the RDA Stadium, and the grass pitch had had the benefit of a sprinkler system pre match to result in a good playing surface.
Kettering had the first effort in the first minute as Luca Miller shot from around 30 yards but home keeper, Elliot Krasniqi collected easily.
The Blues responded in kind a minute or so later as a goal bound shot from Ryan Charles was brilliantly tipped wide by Dan Jezeph diving full stretch to his left.
The home side were to benefit from a number of free kicks in the first half, and the first one in the 6th minute saw it taken short with the visiting defence napping, but the low cross which followed was hacked clear.
Kettering then gained a rare free kick and Kyle Storer’s shot was blocked. On 12 minutes, Nile Ranger was back defending a Charles free kick and he cleared well. The Poppies responded positively and Ben Hart’s corner from the right was met by the head of Alex Gudger but the effort was over the bar.
Hart had a shot blocked and from the resultant cross Ranger headed just wide. Jamar Loza, operating in a more central position, looked lively every time he had the ball and his 21st minute shot hit a defender.
On 25 minutes, Ty Wilson set up Miller and as Luca went down in the penalty area the Referee waived away claims for a penalty. In the next minute, skipper, Connor Johnson had to be replaced by Wes York as he sustained a calf injury. This necessitated another change as Hart took a more defensive role.
The free kicks continued for the Blues, many of them into the visitor’s penalty area, with Jezeph tending to take plenty of high balls. The Poppies had to rely mainly on corners for their set pieces and a short corner attempt on 32 minutes went badly wrong giving Bishop’s Stortford a chance to break, but they could not take advantage.
Loza was giving the home defence plenty to think about and won a corner on the right. Despite all 11 home players defending the set piece, Storer’s delivery was met by a bullet header by Gudger but was well saved by Krasniqi.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes of the half, there was a flurry of activity. Wilson’s searching low cross was cleared by the home defence. For the Blues, Rashawn Scott broke away, but the shot was a pickup for Jezeph.
Loza turned well in the box to get a shot in which Krasniqi saved. The home side had an opening but Brad Russell fired well over.
Nile Ranger was showing up very well up top and giving the tall central defenders something to think about. On 41 minutes, he set up Loza with a great chance and as the goal beckoned the shot was just wide. Loza immediately had another chance but this time the shot hit Miller, who was in an offside position. Again, within a minute, Loza had a clear chance, going through, and Krasniqi saved with his legs.
In added time, Lewis White excelled as he stopped Scott getting the shot in and the last action saw Storer’s corner cleared by Krasniqi.
Half Time:
Bishop’s Stortford 0 – 0 Kettering Town
There were no immediate substitutions after the break.
Ranger was soon in the game as he went over in the penalty area under a challenge. Again, the Referee waived away any claims for a penalty. He was soon at the back post to meet a cross but headed straight at Krasniqi.
The Poppies were taking control of the game and little was seen of the Blues in attack until Luka Chalwell saw a shot go for a corner. The set piece drifted harmlessly behind the goal.
Kettering took the lead on 62 minutes. Loza was upended by Mark Haines and after some thought, the Referee awarded a penalty and produced a yellow card for Haines. Ranger made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Bishop’s Stortford 0 – 1 (62 minutes)
Within minutes it was almost 2-0 as Storer’s direct free kick just went the wrong side of the left upright.
With Kettering now dictating the game, the home side seemed out of ideas. Wilson’s shot on the right was held by Krasniqj. A rare home attack saw Jezeph collect a cross from the right.
Terrell Pennant replaced Wison on 79 minutes and within three minutes scored Kettering’s second. A neat one-two with Ranger saw Pennant finish clinically past Krasniqi.
Bishop’s Stortford 0 – 2 ( 82 minutes)
The Blues could not respond as Ranger again set up Pennant but his lofted effort drifted wide.
After 5 minutes of added time, Kettering took home 3 valuable points.
Full Time:
Bishop’s Stortford 0 – 2 Kettering Town
Attendance: 664 (Kettering fans estimated at 250)
Referee: Samuel Clayton; Assistant Referees: Daniel Hawkins and Scott Langley
Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Nile Ranger
FORTHCOMING HOME MATCHES:
Saturday April 19th: Royston Town FC at 3pm
Saturday April 26th: Banbury United FC at 3pm
Forthcoming Away Match:
Monday 21st April: Biggleswade Town FC at 3pm
