07 Apr KINGS LYNN TOWN 4-1 KETTERING TOWN
IN BRIEF:
Four goals in effectively 20 minutes from promotion chasing Kings Lynn destroyed the Poppies today after the visitors had coped pretty well for 47 minutes in the first half. The first goal right on the half time whistle came from ex Poppy, Ben Stephens. A further three goals in the first 20 minutes after the restart came from Gold Omotayo in the 49th minute and a 61st minute penalty, and Adam Crowther on 65 minutes. Substitute, Decarrey Sheriff got a consolation for Kettering with 15 minutes to go.
THE KETTERING SQUAD:
There was a welcome return after injury from loanee, Jimmy Knowles, and Tom Scott, also on loan, made his first full start. The injured Tyrone Lewthwaite dropped out along with Decarrey Sheriff.
THE TEAMS:
KINGS LYNN TOWN
31 Tommy Dixon-Hodge
2 Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain
4 Kyle Callan-McFadden
5 Adam Crowther
6 Joshua Coulson
7 Michael Clunan (Captain)
8 Theo Widdrington (20 Tommy Hughes,67)
9 Gold Omotayo (38 Jordan Ponyicelli,72)
10 Joshua Barrett
15 Ben Stephens (16 Aaron Cosgrave,46)
17 Aaron Jones
Unused substitutes:
12 Tai Fleming
32 Jack Morrell
Yellow Cards: Barrett,20; Jones,35; Coulson,80
KETTERING TOWN:
1 Owen Mason
6 Brad Gascoigne
8 Gary Stohrer (Captain)
9 Jimmy Knowles (17 Decarrey Sheriff,66)
10 Keaton Ward
11 Rhys Sharpe
12 George Cooper
14 Ethan Hill
15 Ellis Myles (20 Ben Sault,76)
16 George Forsyth
18 Tom Scott (4 Lewis White,55)
Unused Substitutes:
7 Sam Bennett
13 Will Lakin
Yellow Card: Cooper,61
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
A very pleasant sunny afternoon greeted the teams at the Walks Stadium today. The teams had their usual formations, with the Linnets preferring three central defenders and two wing backs and Kettering stuck with a back four.
The Poppies pressed first, winning a corner which was easily cleared and, for the home side, Josh Barrett’s cross from the left was held by visiting keeper, Owen Mason. The first real threat came for Kings Lynn on 9 minutes as Gold Omotayo poked Michael Clunan’s shot wide.
Kettering’s long throws from Rhys Sharpe were a feature and, indeed, Kings Lynn employed the same tactic pushing up their three centre backs along with the tall Omotayo. Sharpe’s missile on 12 minutes dropped loose and George Cooper’s on-target shot was blocked. A second Sharpe throw fell to Tom Scott, but he hacked the ball badly wide.
There was soon a yellow card for Josh Barrett, as Kings Lynn took some control of the game and Theo Widdrington’s 28th minute shot was marginally wide of the left upright. Omotayo got on the end of a long throw and Mason just got across to hold the ball. There followed a good spell of home pressure, with Mason holding a Ben Stephens’ shot and Michael Clunan firing over after good touches from Omotayo and Stephens.
Kettering skipper, Gary Stohrer saw his 20 yard left foot shot drift wide on 36 minutes and a minute later George Cooper timed his last ditch tackle on Stephens to perfection as the striker raced clear.
The Poppies countered through lone (and loan!) striker, Jimmy Knowles getting past his marker on the right and, on the by-line, his low cross/shot evaded any defender’s touch which could have seen a goal. Then a neat five man move saw Knowles’ shot blocked away.
As two minutes of added time elapsed, all Kettering’s hard work was undone as Barrett crossed low from the right and Stephens got in front of all the visiting defenders to slot in the first goal. Kettering kicked off to hear the Referee whistle immediately for half time.
Half Time:
KINGS LYNN TOWN 1 – 0 KETTERING TOWN
Stephens, clearly suffering from a knee injury, was replaced by Aaron Cosgrave and Kettering remained unchanged.
The Linnets shocked the Poppies just four minutes into the half as Clunan’s corner from the right saw an unchallenged Omotayo head firmly into the net from a few yards out.
Kings Lynn were well in control at this stage and Kettering decided to introduce Lewis White into a three-man central defence replacing Tom Scott. Immediately Widdrington was left unmarked on the left but headed wide from a few yards out.
With George Cooper moving across to his unfavoured left side in defence, he was caught for pace by substitute Cosgrave and brought him down for a clear penalty, receiving a caution for his misdemeanor. Omotayo converted the spot kick.
Worse was to follow just four minutes later for Kettering as a long free kick was not dealt with and with Mason faltering, Adam Crowther poked in from close range to make it 4-0.
Jimmy Knowles, just back from injury was sensibly withdrawn at this stage and replaced by Decarrey Sheriff. Sheriff, and, at last playing centrally, he got a decent shot in straight away but was ruled offside in any event.
Linnets’ substitute, Aaron Cosgrave, showed plenty of pace down the middle in attack and got clear on 73 minutes but shot into the side netting.
Ben Sault replaced Ellis Myles, who had been struggling after a couple of hefty tackles on him in the first half with Sault going into midfield as Stohrer dropped in at right back.
Sault and Sheriff soon combined and Sault’s pass sent Sheriff clear down the middle and his finish was clinical to pull a goal back on 77 minutes.
Kettering gained some confidence and the otherwise quiet, Keaton Ward saw his free kick headed just wide of goal by Cooper. The game started to fizzle out with the home side certain to gain the points. But there was still time for Cosgrave to fire into the side netting again and Kettering had three late corners which came to nothing.
Full Time:
KINGS LYNN TOWN 4 – 1 KETTERING TOWN
Match Officials: Referee: Harry Jones: Assistants: Sam Wesson and Ian Ruddock
Attendance: 1531 (Kettering fans and Officials estimated at 125)
Poppies Media Elgoods Brewery Man of the Match: George Forsyth
Match Report by Sadman KTFC.
Season’s Remaining matches:
APRIL:
Monday 10th (Easter Monday) HOME to Leamington at 3pm
Saturday 15th away at Spennymoor Town at 3pm
Saturday 22nd HOME to Chester at 3pm
Sunday 23rd 150th Anniversary Day –Legends Match at Latimer Park at 2pm
Saturday 29th away at Kidderminster Harriers at 3pm