29 Jul Kettering Town 1-1 Spalding United
KETTERING TOWN 1 – 1 SPALDING UNITED
The last friendly before the real action begins saw the Poppies and the Tulips play out a somewhat tame draw as the game ended in stalemate at 1-1. Both goals were scored after three minutes had elapsed in each half with Kettering taking the lead through a trialist in the first period and Spalding equalising in the second half.
Kettering used trialists far more than Spalding, who included ex Poppies players in James Clifton, Wilson Carvalho and Jordan Graham, ex-Brackley stalwart Glenn Walker and a goalkeeper well known to Kettering fans – Tony Breedon.
The Poppies were without the unavailable Ben Toseland and Gary Stohrer, and also Lewis White who was still recovering from illness.
Kettering lined up:
Billy Johnson (sub Trialist,46)
Trialist ( sub O’Keefe,28)
Trialist (sub Trialist,75)
Kelvin Langmead
Harry Reilly
Trialist(sub Trialist 75)
Huw Dawson (sub Charley Barker,70)
Trialist( sub Luca Miller,70)
Rhys Sharpe
Sam Bennett (sub Josh Drain70)
Ty Lewthwaite (sub Harry Moors,70)
The game started brightly for Kettering and inside two minutes visiting keeper, Breedon, made two great stops in quick succession, eventually conceding a corner. From this restart Kettering took the lead as a tall trialist headed the corner firmly past Breedon.
Spalding were comparatively slow to get into the game, but on 16 minutes veteran Glenn Walker waltzed past two tackles on the right to get a cross in which was well defended.
The next chance fell to Kettering, but Sam Bennett could not get his effort past Breedon. Kettering’s trialist playing at right wing back was effectively substituted by Referee Shaun Barry on 28 minutes after pulling down a Spalding attacker who was going clear. Normally a red card, but sensible refereeing and Kai O’Keefe came on.
Ty Lewthwaite fired over from a decent position and at the other end James Clifton’s shot was easy for Billy Johnson.
The final minutes of the first half saw the game coming to life. Ex Poppy, Jordan Graham went on a mazy run past defenders and when it seemed certain he would score, he fluffed his lines and a defender got the shot away for a corner. For Kettering, O’Keefe saw his shot blocked and finally Breedon was cautioned for pulling Lewthwaite over as the keeper got stranded outside of the penalty area, with what could best be described as a bear hug!
HALF TIME 1 – 0
Kettering brought on another trialist this time in goal as Johnson sat out the second half.
The Tulips equalised on 48 minutes as a Kettering trialist was cautioned for a dangerous tackle. The resultant free kick was knocked across goal and the ball was stabbed into the net with some skill at the far post.
A couple of minutes later another Tulips’ chance was headed wide. As the game slowed, Sam Bennett had a great chance having been played clear down the right, but the shot was straight at Breedon.
At the other end, Graham saw his driven free kick cannon off the bar, and then Bennett for Kettering had another chance which he blasted over.
As the substitutes kept appearing the game was very scrappy, with Spalding having the better of the play, but without creating chances.
The only real goal threat came from Kettering as substitute, Josh Drain, connected well with a shot and Breedon did well to save.
FULL TIME: 1 – 1
Attendance: 381
Klondike £170 number 02059 claimed by Bob Brown of Burton Latimer
Match Report by Sadman
Next games at Latimer Park: Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division:
Saturday August 12th at 3pm: Stourbridge
Saturday August 19th at 3pm: Halesowen Town
Monday August 28th at 3pm: St. Ives Town
Away fixtures in August:
Saturday August 5th at Stamford at 3pm
Monday August 14th at Barwell at 7.45pm
Saturday August 26th at Redditch United at 3pm.