Quorn v  Kettering Town

Pitching in Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 8th November 2025  3:00pm

      Referee:  Ashley Royston               Assistants: Liam Marsh and Stephen Beresford

The revolving door at KTFC continues to turn with more comings and goings at Latimer Park. With Kai Williams and Blaine Rowe making their debuts against St Ives last weekend. Tuesday’s Hillier cup tie at ON Chenecks saw Ryan Monga make a scoring debut coming on with twenty minutes to play and scoring Kettering’s third goal. Ryan wore the number five shirt for that game with its previous wearer Aksum White moving on to Stourbridge. In the intervening three days, Mr McDonald has been very busy bringing in three players on short term loans with two of them making their club debut being included in the starting line up. Preston Bitemo is a central midfielder loaned from Hereford. Lewis Coyle is an experienced left back or midfielder from Bedford Town. The third player, James Clifton, needs no introduction to older Kettering fans but as his last game for the Poppies was over 10 seasons ago, he will be a new face to some supporters.

Quorn currently sit in third place on 27 points, six points  ahead of Kettering who lie in ninth. It will be the first time this season that Kettering have played a team above them in the table. Quorn are unbeaten in their last 6 games, with three wins and two draws scoring15 goals in the process, 3 of those from Kai Fifield. This is as many as Kettering have scored over the same period.

The Kettering team would be looking to extract some revenge for Quorn dumping them out of the FA Cup in September. It would be a vastly different team to that one with only 5 of the starting XI that day starting today. Of the back four, only Will Glennon retains his place with Levi Andoh and Wes York, who played left back that day, dropping to the bench. Coyle would fill the left back spot. Andi Thanoj, Connor Stanley and Eddie Oppong were the other outfield players that started in the cup match with Jason Alexander in goal. Kai Williams would lead the line with Ismael Fatadjo in support. The final starting spot would be taken by loanee Preston Bitemo. Callum Powell, Levi Andoh and Clifton would fill the bench with no space in the match day squad for Shane Flynn or Alfie Lewis who along with Kai Fifield would spend the afternoon as spectators. Paul White was also in attendance looking to return to training in two weeks time.

The weather was overcast but mild for November with negligible wind. The pitch was a 4g surface endowing Quorn with a home field advantage.

Kettering, in their away kit, kicked off with the hosts in an all-red strip. Quorn started brightly looking to apply early pressure on the visitors. Four minutes had been played when Cain Noble managed to get to the byline but his low driven cross passed across the face off the goal emerging on the opposite side untouched. Kettering responded with a shot of their own coming a minute later, when a long throw-in from Rowe ended with Thanoj but his shot was well wide.

A quarter of an hour had been played when Quorn had their first chance. Zak Goodson got the better of Coyle on Kettering’s left and curled an dangerous in swinging ball towards the middle of the goal. Alexander bravely dived forward to punch the ball away but was met by Noble flying in. Jason made contact with the ball sending it into the forward from where it ballooned up and over the bar. Of some concern to Kettering fans was the fact that Jason remained on the floor holding his head after colliding with the Quorn player. With no substitute keeper on the bench, things looked bad for the visitors. After lengthy treatment from Michael Hunter, during which time a bandage was applied to Jason’s head and promptly removed, the goalkeeper had recovered sufficiently for play to continue although Alexander still looked somewhat dazed.

After a break in play of almost five minutes, Kettering appeared to have handled the stoppage the better of the two teams and they took control of the game and stated to apply pressure on the Quorn defence. Twenty-two minutes had been played when Oppong, running at the full back, forced the first corner of the game. It was taken short by Fatadjo to Oppong who took on his marker Goodson and generated enough space to fire a fierce shot in trying to beat Allsopp at his near post but the keeper reacted quickly to beat the ball away for another corner. This was delivered into the middle of the penalty area where it was challenged for in the air. The ball broke to Thanoj on the edge of the area but his shot struck Glennon before being cleared by player/manager Ryan Beswick for a throw-in. Rowe delivered a long throw-in into the box which was put behind for another Kettering corner which came to nothing.

Quorn moved play up to the opposite end and Finn O’Boyle with little support tried his luck but his effort was high and wide. Before the restart, Quorn were forced into an early change when after twenty-five minutes veteran Billy Kee went to the floor and could not continue. Simeon Cobourne replaced him.

Kettering had a good chance to open the scoring on the half hour mark when Stanley broke down Kettering’s right wing. Connor took on the left back before sending in a low ball towards Williams. Kai stabbed for the ball with his left leg just managing to get a toe to the ball but underneath it and sent the ball up and over the bar.

Shortly after, Oppong attacked the full back Burgess twisting and turning showing his full repertoire of tricks before attempting to drive in a low cross but the defender had stuck to his task and managed to block the ball behind for another corner. The corner was sent into the middle but no-one got a touch on it and it travelled across the width of the pitch and was cleared.

Despite Kettering having the majority of play, Quorn were capable of launching a rapid counterattack and did so on thirty-seven minutes with Noble carrying the ball into the Kettering half. He slipped the ball outside to Goodson advancing with menace down Kettering’s left. A breakdown in communications between Forsyth and Coyle saw Noble able to steal in behind to latch onto a clever return ball from the winger. With the forward clear through on goal Alexander showed no ill effects of his earlier coming together with the player and spread himself well at his near post. Noble’s shot struck Jason on the chest and deflected up onto the face of the bar, rebounding back into play before being hacked away by a defender.

It was a stark warning for Kettering that despite dominating possession it could all change in a blink of an eye. The players heeded the warning and in the final five minutes of the half pressed harder for the all-important goal.

On forty-one minutes Oppong, who had had a good half, tested Allsopp with a firm shot from outside the penalty area. The shot bounced awkwardly just before it reached the keeper causing him to fail to take it cleanly and was grateful to grab it at the second attempt.

Kettering regained possession from the clearance and came straight back at the hosts with Oppong driving to the by-line before delivering in a fierce cross which was headed behind by Cox. The resulting corner taken short quickly broke down allowing Quorn to clear the ball but only straight to Thanoj. A neat passing move involving Stanley, Oppong and Fatadjo was brought to a halt when Fyfe, the Quorn captain, took Ismael’s legs out from under him with a scything tackle from behind. Mr Royston awarded a free kick but against the calls from the Poppies supporters behind the goal left his cards in his pocket. For the second Saturday running the skilful Fatadjo was being singled out for a series of fouls by the opposition. The free kick, some ten yards outside the penalty area and left of centre, was lifted towards the far post by Fatadjo was cleared out by a defender and went out of play for a throw-in a yard or so from the corner flag. As the regulation forty-five minutes were coming to a close Rowe delivered a long throw aimed towards the near post. Forsyth with his back to goal surround by three defenders nodded the ball on. Allsopp who had pushed Williams away from himself jumped to catch the ball as Williams did likewise. The keeper completely misjudged the flight of the ball and instead of catching it, it struck his forearm and dropped to the floor at the feet of Fatadjo who side footed the ball home from a yard out. 0-1 Kettering 45 mins

Despite the protestations of Allsopp, including going to the Assistant Referee on the touchline to plead his case, the goal stood and as Quorn lined up for the restart it was announced that there would be only four additional minutes played which appeared a trifle short allowing for a substitution, a goal and the lengthy stoppage following the injury to Alexander.

In added time, Quorn managed to force two corners but the Kettering defence remained  untroubled. 

  Half Time: Quorn  0   Kettering Town 1

Neither side made any changes at half time.

Kettering started the second half looking to continue on the front foot and in the second minute of the half had a chance to double their lead. A throw-in, level with the edge of the penalty area, was lobbed into the penalty area by Rowe. A defender looking to clear the ball merely managed to head the ball looping into the air towards the far post but Burgess managed to get between Fatadjo and the ball to prevent Ismael getting a meaningful touch on the ball.

The very next minute Rowe was well forward down Kettering’s right wing and delivered a deep cross to Oppong. Eddie controlled the ball with his head but his follow up shot let him down flying high into the air before being cleared.

Quorn as expected showed a greater degree of urgency and nine minutes into the second half won a corner as a ball into the box was blocked behind by Rowe. The set piece was plucked out of the air by Alexander with ease. The ball came almost straight back and once again Rowe was forced to concede a corner. This time the kick was taken short but Kettering were alert and the ball sent towards the far post was headed away by Forsyth to Oppong just outside the penalty area. Eddie looked up and played a ball forward for Williams the only Kettering player up front to run onto. Outnumbered by two defenders the home team managed to thwart the swift counterattack.

 Quorn’s first shot of the second half came after fifty-five minutes when Glennon appeared to be given a sly push by a forward as he lined up to head clear a ball played forward by Quorn as a result his header skews off to Cobourne but he screwed his shot wide of the post.

Quorn were ratcheting up the pressure on the Kettering defence and just shy of the hour mark the hosts were on the attack again. Cobourne received the ball on the edge of the penalty area but was closed down by Glennon. The forward squared the ball inside to Beswick who tried a shot on the edge of the D but Forsyth stood firm and blocked the ball away but only to Goodson who looked to squeeze the ball past Alexander at his near post. Jason blocked the ball with his left hand but spun around and dropped on the loose ball as O’Boyle looked to pounce on it.

Shortly after play was halted as Fatadjo went to the floor requiring treatment after which he could continue. Four minutes later, with Quorn getting on top, Kettering made their first substitution with James Clifton replacing Kai Williams. Clifton looked like he could make an immediate impact on the game as within moments of coming on Fatadjo threaded a ball through for James to run onto however the move was thwarted by the Assistant Referee raising his flag for offside.

Kettering were looking to break the flow of the game and prevent Quorn from building up a head of steam and on sixty-six minutes replaced Eddie Oppong with Wes York. From the restart, Kettering played the ball forward to Stanley who got free in the box but he could only manage to find the side netting with his shot.

The Kettering tactic was working as the growing Quorn pressure was relieved as Kettering started playing inside the Quorn half and applying pressure of their own on the host’s goal and winning a corner after seventy-one minutes. Before the corner was taken Kettering made their third substitution with Connor Stanley being withdrawn in favour of Callum Powell. On coming on, Callum became the fourth member of the squad joining George Forsyth, Andi Thanoj and Wes York in making 50 career appearances for the club. Nile Ranger also make the 50 mark this season. The corner came to nothing and Quorn quickly switched play to the opposite end but the move came to a halt through a Quorn handball.

Quorn took advantage in the break in play to make a triple substitution with Zhani Burgess, Ryan Beswick and Finn O’Boyle making way for Jasper Tetlow, Rodrigo Goncalves and Marvellous Onabirekhanlen.

Kettering were happy to retain possession deep in Quorn’ s half as they drew the sting out of the Quorn attack. With a quarter of an hour left to play, Kettering made their final substitution with the battered Fatadjo being replaced by another league debutant Ryan Monga.

The game got it’s first yellow card after seventy-seven minutes when Powell tripped an opponent who was going nowhere pinned tight to the touchline. Callum’s case was not helped by the fact that he had committed a foul just sixty seconds earlier. The free-kick level with the edge of the penalty area saw Quorn send all their tall players forward but the lofted ball in evaded everyone and went behind for a goal kick.

Shortly after, Quorn won another free kick in a dangerous position and crowded the box. The ball was lifted towards the far post where Frizelle met the ball but the header lacked direction and the ball ballooned towards the goal. Alexander advanced off his line but had to opt for punching the ball away. Frizelle managed to get a head to the ball but could not direct the ball anywhere but up the ball broke to Fyfe out by the touchline. He lifted the ball back into the middle where a combination of Alexander and Glennon managed to prevent Cox from making meaningful contact on the ball. It finally broke to Cobourne but he could only to manage to blast the ball over the bar from 6 yards out.

Kettering were not sitting back waiting for Quorn to attack and pressed forward when the opportunity arose and fed the ball forward to Powell on the left wing. Callum took on the right back Bello before squaring the ball to Monga but his shot from distance was straight at the keeper.

With seven minutes to go, Bitemo went into the book for a pull back on a Quorn man. The Referee initially allowed play to continue but as no advantage accrued brought play back to the site of the foul just inside the Kettering half.

The two Kettering players were joined in the book with under five minutes to go by Onabirekhanlen guilty of pulling Rowe back when he was looking to carry the ball out of defence.

With time rapidly running out for Quorn, they were ready to throw men forward in numbers but Kettering defended with determination. Glennon with three minutes to go was perfectly positioned to put a dangerous ball played into the box behind for a corner. The set piece was lifted into the goal mouth but was cleared out of the danger area but only to a red shirt but he could only blaze his shot wide. As the regulation 90 minutes were coming to an end, Quorn forced another corner but the Kettering defence was untroubled and cleared the ball but Quorn retained possession as five additional minutes was announced.

Clifton, the lone front man, did well to win his side a free kick which Thanoj played forward. Quorn cleared the ball but it was collected by Coyle who tried a shot only to see it strike Powell and go out for a throw-in. Aware that time was pressing, Quorn took it quickly briefly outnumbering the visitors. Forsyth took one for the team and conceded a free kick earning himself a booking but more importantly a chance for his team to get organised.

For the free kick, just inside the Kettering half, Quorn sent everybody apart from the keeper forward. The kick was lofted into the Kettering penalty area. Alexander came a long way out of his goal and outjumped everyone to get a solid two-handed punch on the ball to send it as far away from his goal as possible. A Quorn played turned to recover the ball but Bitemo facing the right way sprinted hard and overtook him in a chase to the ball. Preston got there first and continued running at full tilt taking him deep into Quorn territory. The free kick taker had run across the pitch to try and close Bitemo down but was not going to catch him. A yard or so outside the penalty area Preston struck a thunderous shot which Allsopp who had advanced to 10 yards from his goal line had no chance in stopping and the ball flew into the net. 0-2 Kettering 93 mins

It was a body blow to the hosts but in the remaining time they managed to force a corner but the set piece was headed over the bar.

Mr Royston had the final say by booking Wes York in the final minute with his offence being unclear before shortly after sounding the final whistle.

 Full Time: Quorn  0   Kettering Town  2

A first league win of the Liam McDonald regime and thoroughly deserved. Kettering more than matched the hosts on a surface where questions have been asked in the past about the squads performance on artificial surfaces. The skilful ball players in the team showed those skills with Stanley, Oppong and Fatadjo looking like they play on plastic week in and week out. Hopefully, they will shine as brightly in our next league match on the plastic at Spalding. Kettering dominated the first 45 minutes attacking down both flanks and through the middle with pace limiting the hosts to a handful of attacking opportunities and scoring the opener at a perfect time. The second half was edged by the hosts as befitting a team playing in front of it’s own supporters but you do not become a bad team in 45 minutes and they were third in the table for a reason. Kettering defended well with grit and determination with Alexander being forced into performing only one difficult save in the second half. The balance of the team was not unduly upset by the introduction of the loan players and the absence of a game on the 15^th should enable the team a few more training sessions in which to gel as a team. A modicum of revenge for being dumped out the FA Cup by Quorn has been achieved but the contrast between that day’s performance and today’s is between day and night.

 Quorn yellow cards: Onabirekhanlen – foul

 Kettering Town yellow cards:  Powell, Bitemo, Forsyth – fouls   York – ????

Attendance: 690

Kettering Town Media Team Man-of-the-Match – Will Glennon –  Since his return to the team after illness Will has performed with great consistency and dependability in the back four with another outstanding performance today.

KTFC Supporters Travel Club Man-of-the-Match – Ismael Fatadjo