29 Oct Match Report: Berkhamsted 2 – 3 The Poppies

IN BRIEF:

The Poppies were 2-0 up at half time at Berkhamsted today with goals from Dan Jarvis and Kelvin Langmead. However the ‘Comrades’ staged a spirited reply in the second period and levelled the scores through substitute Lewis Johnson on 48 minutes and Sami Bessadi after 82 minutes, following up after his penalty had been saved by Billy Johnson. A dramatic finale saw Kettering win the game with a goal from Rhys Sharpe in the last minute of normal time.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

The starting eleven was the same as seen at Leiston in midweek. Goalkeeper, Niall Shackleton, joined the substitutes bench replacing the released O’Shane Stewart. Huw Dawson remained unavailable through injury.

THE TEAMS:

BERKHAMSTED:

1 Jamie Head
2 Kyal Williams
3 Thomas Silford (17 Anthony Ball, 46)
4 Daniel Newton
5 Samuel McClelland
6 Luke Massingham
7 Sami Bessadi
8 Adam Martin
9 Eduard Toiny-Pendred (14 Lewis Johnson, 37)
10 Conner Toomey
11 Max Bustamante Macaire (15 Olumayowa LaSalle)

Unused Substitutes:
12 Aaron Austin

Yellow Cards: Bessadi,62; Toomey,69; Massingham,86.

KETTERING TOWN:

1 Billy Johnson
2 Owen Cochrane
3 Ben Toseland (9 Tyrone Lewthwaite,64)
5 Kelvin Langmead
6 Lewis White
7 Leon Clarke (20 Will Mellors-Blair,80)
8 Gary Stohrer (Captain)
10 Sam Bennett
11 Rhys Sharpe
12 Dan Jarvis (4 Harry Reilly,45)
18 Tom Scott

Unused Substitutes:
13 Niall Shackleton
16 Luca Purse

Yellow Cards: None

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

A very healthy Kettering following in the crowd of 338  welcomed the teams in dry conditions.

The Comrades created an easy chance but Edu Toiny-Pendred’s effort was easy for Kettering keeper, Billy Johnson. Leon Clarke won a corner for the Poppies which was cleared away for a throw and Rhys Sharpe’s lofted missile was well defended.

Toiny-Pendred’s header from a set piece rolled harmlessly to Johnson and, from the clearance, Dan Jarvis looked to send Sam Bennett clear – but the pass lacked accuracy. Home skipper and keeper, Jamie Head, punched away a Sharpe free kick and then made an excellent diving save to push away Bennett’s left foot shot after he was sent clear on goal. The corner saw Head push the ball onto a Kettering head and the ball slid wide of goal.

It had been a bright opening 15 minutes.

On 22 minutes, Ben Toseland foiled Max Bustamente MacAire as he threatened to go clear on the right. This same home player then headed narrowly over the bar from a Kyal Williams cross, when he may have done better with the free header from a few yards out.

The Poppies countered well with Sharpe’s cross being flicked goalwards by Bennett and Head saved.

The nearest to a goal then came on 31 minutes as Sami Bessadi’s left foot shot from the right side came off the top of the crossbar.

As the game neared half time, Gary Stohrer fired wide from a decent position before Kettering took the lead in the 41st minute. Dan Jarvis, on the right, put in a deep cross which arrowed towards goal. Keeper Head got a glove on it but only helped it to drop in at the far post.

Berkhamsted 0 – 1 Kettering Town.

Jarvis soon had to leave the field with a hamstring injury being replaced by Harry Reilly.

In added time in the half, Kettering doubled their lead. Home defender, Sam McLelland headed a Bennett cross over his own crossbar. From the restart, Sharpe’s corner was headed firmly in by Kelvin Langmead.

Berkhamsted 0 – 2 Kettering Town

There was still time for a last Kettering attack as Sharpe’s cross was taken by Head.

Half Time:

BERKHAMSTED     0    –    2      KETTERING TOWN

For Berkhamsted, Anthony Ball replaced Thomas Silford at the start of the half.

The Comrades came out with added vigour and upped the tempo. So much so, that they pulled a goal back on 48 minutes. Substitute, Lewis Johnson, caught out a hesitant Langmead and beat his namesake Billy, with a low shot in at the left upright.

Berkhamsted 1 – 2 Kettering Town.

Berkhamsted had a spell and Conner Toomey fired wide. Lewis White did well to deflect a Bustamente Macaire shot for a corner, and Langmead blocked a resulting shot. The Poppies did break out with Owen Cochrane on the right. His deep cross to the far post was met by Leon Clarke, who somehow managed to head wide with the goal at his mercy.

Ty Lewthwaite came off the bench to replace Ben Toseland as the formation changed. His first contribution was to set up Harry Reilly for a shot which drifted wide.

Berkhamsted were well in the game at this stage and pushing forward with Bessadi’s shot being deflected wide. The Poppies got out of their own half with Stohrer working hard and with Langmead up for a Sharpe throw his shot was saved by Head at the expense of a corner.

The Comrades equalised on 82 minutes. Langmead was caught out with a low ball just inside the penalty area and brought down an attacker. Bassadi’s penalty was saved by Johnson and as the ball broke loose Bessadi fired in, much to the frustration of The Poppies players, who clearly thought Billy Johnsons had been fouled after the save.

Berkhamsted 2 – 2 Kettering Town.

As the game entered five minutes of added time, Johnson made an important save from Adam Martin’s shot.

Kettering got out of their half with a promising attack and won a free kick just outside the penalty area. Rhys Sharpe’s left foot shot took a deflection and beat Head for what was to be the winning goal, 2 minutes into injury time.

Berkhamsted 2 – 3 Kettering Town

The home side did have a final chance but Williams’ free kick was over the bar.

Full Time:

BERKHAMSTED     2    –     3      KETTERING TOWN

Match Officials: Referee: Stuart Kyle Assistants: Matthew Basterfield and Emmanuel Unusfe

Attendance: 338  (Kettering fans and officials estimated at 150)

Poppies Media, Elgoods Brewery Man of the Match: Gary Stohrer

Match Report by Sadman KTFC

Forthcoming Home Games:

Tuesday October 31st: AFC Telford Utd at 7.45pm

Saturday November 4th: Royston at 3pm

Tuesday November 14th: Corby Town at 7.45pm (Hillier Senior Cup)

Saturday November 18th: now vacant due to Nuneaton’s continuation in the Isuzu F A Trophy.

Forthcoming Away Games: