MATCH SUMMARY:

Another strong second half performance away from home saw the Poppies score the only goal of the game through Jonny Edwards in the 80th minute. Already relegated Biggleswade showed plenty of fight, especially in the first half without really troubling Kettering keeper Dan Jezeph. Kettering had good chances in the second period, before scoring the winner, with the goalposts and home keeper Jack Berman preventing further goals.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

More squad rotation saw Ben Hart, Andi Thanoj, Jonny Edwards and Terrell Pennant start, with Wes York, Nile Ranger, Jamar Loza reverting to the bench and Kyle Storer was injured with Kai Fifield returning as one of the substitutes.

THE TEAMS:

Biggleswade Town:

1  Jack Berman

2  Nagheeb Ibrahim

3  Callum Wilson

4  Michael Adu

5  Charlie Briggs

6  Ryan Doherty (Captain)

7  Marcus Gouldbourne

8  Albert Wood (17 Marcus Gusynski,88)

9  Joshua Steele

10 Liam Andrews (15 Jake Bunyan,90)

11 Obidinma Onyeaguara (18 Keon Lewis-Burgess)

Unused Substitutes:

1  Lucas Daunhauer (G/K)

1 Will Fisher (G/ K)

Yellow card: Andrews,47.

KETTERING TOWN:

1  Dan Jezeph

2  Ben Hart

3  Aaron Powell

4  Devon Kelly-Evans (9 Nile Ranger,72)

6  Alex Gudger(7 Wes York,72)

8  Andi Thanoj

10 Terrell Pennant (19 Kai Fifield,65)

11 Tyree Wilson (20 Jamar Loza,46)

12 Lewis White

14 Sam McLintock

18 Jonny Edwards (17 Luca Miller,84)

Unused Substitutes: None

Yellow Cards: Edwards,1;Powell,11.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

The game started in overcast conditions after morning rain, which then came and went as the game proceeded.

Kettering’s Jonny Edwards was cautioned within a minute for an awkward aerial challenge. The Waders of Biggleswade started the better and the visiting defence soon had to hurriedly clear a long throw into the six-yard box. A 6th minute shot from Liam Andrews was an easy pick up for Kettering keeper, Dan Jezeph.

Ben Hart soon won a corner on the right which was well defended and as the Waders broke away, Aaron Powell was cautioned for a ‘professional’ foul. As Biggleswade threatened again, Devon Kelly-Evans made a crucial interception to prevent a shot to goal from a few yards out.

As the game approached the 20-minute mark a rare Kettering attack saw Hart’s cross drift behind Jack Berman’s goal The next Poppies attack saw Ty Wilson on the left go past Nagheeb Ibrahim only to be hauled down in the penalty area, with the Referee signalling a corner.

Biggleswade responded and Josh Steele headed tamely wide. With the game now end-to-end Edwards won a corner for the Poppies from which Sam McLintock saw his shot blocked out.

On the half hour came the best chance of the game to date as Terrell Pennant went clear in the penalty area and Berman made a great save. The Poppies then had another chance as Alex Gudger won an Andi Thanoj free kick heading across goal for Lewis White, but the central defender could not get enough good contact to worry Berman.

As the interval approached, crosses from the left from Wilson and the right from Hart went begging. The last action of the half saw Gudger intercept a dangerous low cross from Obidinwa Onyeagwara.

Half Time:

Biggleswade Town        0      –     0              Kettering Town

At the start of the half Jamar Loza replaced Ty Wilson.

Within a few minutes, Onyeagwara went on a weaving run down the middle to create a shooting chance, but the effort was skewed well wide.

The Poppies could have opened the scoring in the 49th minute as Loza did well coming in from the left. His pass across goal found Pennant, who fired against the right post. Four minutes later, another chance for Kettering saw Edwards win a corner on the left. From the restart, White headed on to Edwards and, from point blank range, Berman stopped the shot which rested under his body.

The Poppies were in control. Kelly-Evans saw his shot saved and Pennant’s follow up was blocked. On the hour, Loza won a corner on the left, which was recycled and as the Poppies threatened play was stopped for a foul on Berman. The next Kettering attack, on the hour, saw Loza’s shot beat Berman but hit the left post.

The Poppies were trying everything to score. Thanoj put a shot over the bar. Hart’s cross from the right was scrambled away for a fruitless corner and on 70 minutes Loza headed over a Powell cross from the left. Berman took a Hart cross at the second attempt.

Home substitute, Keon Lewis-Burgess, did get a shot away on 77 minutes which was well wide. As the game entered the final ten minutes Kettering scored. Substitute Wes York crossed from the left and Edwards produced a crisp low volley at the far post to finally beat Berman.

Biggleswade Town   0   –   1   Kettering Town (80 minutes)

The Poppies tried to play the game out and contain their hosts with Loza having a lot of ball on the left. His cross almost found substitute Kai Fifield and he also won another corner.

Seven minutes of added time saw the Waders throw men forward with Charlie Briggs heading wide from a corner and substitute Jake Bunyan firing over. But the vital three points were Kettering’s.

Full Time:

Biggleswade Town        0      –     1              Kettering Town

Attendance: 550  (Kettering fans estimated at 400)

Referee: Richard Wharton; Assistant Referees: Matthew Rendell and Robert Poole

Poppies Media Kettering Town Man of the Match: Andi Thanoj

Forthcoming Home match:

Saturday April 26th: Banbury United at 3pm