Full Time:

Match Report

Match Sponsors : Dave Singh and friends

Mascots: Weekley Rovers Phantoms

IN A NUTSHELL: A strong second period, together with the visitors being reduced to 10 men, allowed the Poppies the chance to recover from an early Centurions goal after just nine minutes. Kerry Morgan scored for Cirencester with Nathan Hicks equalising before half time. Two late goals from Aaron O’Connor and a James Hall penalty secured the three points.

THE KETTERING SQUAD: With Rene Howe unavailable for this game, Jorrin John started. Brett Solkhon was not fully fit, but on the bench, Jack Kelly replaced Jack O’Connor in the starting 11 and Lewis Hornby, also on the bench, broke down in the pre match warm up.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED: A lovely sunny day at Latimer Park greeted the two teams in front of a healthy crowd- but the wind was still blowing down the pitch. Not much happened in the early stages as both teams adjusted to he conditions. But Cirencester took the lead with the first real effort on goal after 9 minutes. The Referee brought play back after a long delay after a foul on a visiting player. The free kick around 40 yards out was struck well and low and home keeper, Paul White completely missed the ball with a dive to his right. The Centurians, playing with the benefit of the wind, gained confidence forcing a couple of corners, which came to nothing. Kettering were struggling to make any impression and a tug on Aaron O’Connor’s shirt went unnoticed, as did a heavy tackle on Nathan Hicks as he shaped to shoot. Both in the penalty area. O’Connor did get in a great shot from the right though, which skimmed the crossbar. O’Connor was looking sharp and lashed a right foot volley into the net only for a handball decision to be given against Liam Canavan. The visitors forced another corner and the cross was knocked over the bar. Disaster nearly struck for Kettering in the 31st minute as White raced off his line to clash with Gary Mulligan and the ball - but fortunately the loose ball dropped in Kettering’s favour. Dan Demkiv skewed a right foot shot badly wide on 35 minutes and in the next minute Kettering won a penalty. The lively O’Connor was brought down and Nathan Hicks stepped up for the penalty. Glyn Garner saved, but Hicks was able to tuck away the rebound. Canavan’s delivery of a 41st minute free kick from a good position was poor and, finally in the half, a Kettering corner from the right skidded off a defender’s head to Mulligan at the far post- but he could only shoot wide.

Half Time: Kettering Town 1 - 1 Cirencester Town

The Poppies, now benefiting from the wind had a great early chance. White’s long clearance met O’Connor’s run into the box and with only Garner to beat he fired wide of the right post. White was then called on to save high up from Morgan. Kettering then threatened with O’Connor’s shot being blocked in the six yard box and then Garner saved an O’Connor header at point blank range after a Liam Bateman cross. From the resulting corner, Dom Langdon’s header was cleared off the line. Jorrin John’s 53rd minute shot in good space was poor and at the other end a Morgan snapshot came off the outside of the left upright with White beaten. The Poppies began to take hold and Canavan’s left foot rocket was very well saved by Garner. From the corner, James Hall put the ball over the bar. A quick break then saw Garner save Jack Kelly’s low shot. Back came the visitors and forced three corners. Collecting the third corner Paul White’s attempted clearance was blocked by Ellis Dunton and he received a second yellow card and was dismissed, a little harshly. James Brighton fired wide for Kettering on 67 minutes and a minute later Demkiv fired wide of the right post with White scrambling. Garner was in fine form saving another Canavan pile-driver and then a Hicks shot. The Poppies took the lead on 85 minutes. A bad mis-kick by Ben Brown allowed Aaron O’Connor a run on goal and despite the bobbling ball he finished well past Garner. The Poppies made it 3-1 in the 90th minute from a James Hall penalty. Brighton was fouled outside the are and as the ball was worked into the area, Canavan was felled by Matt Coupe. Hall’s spot kick was firm past the visitors’ man of the match- Garner.

Next up is Slough Town next Saturday at Latimer Park before the Hillier Senior Cup Final at Sixfields Northampton on Tuesday 11th.

Full Time: Kettering Town 3 - 1 Cirencester Town

Attendance: 507

Klondike winner: Ken Jackson wins £135 on winning ticket number 15331

Poppies Elgoods Man of the Match chosen by Dave Singh and friends: Aaron O’Connor

Team line-ups:

Kettering Town: 1 Paul White 2 Liam Bateman 3 Jack Kelly 4 Liam Canavan 5 Dominic Langdon 6 Gary Mulligan (Captain) 7 Nathan Hicks (14 James Haran,81) 8 Aaron O’Connor 9 James Hall 10 Jorrin John (12 Ben Baker,66) 11 James Brighton

Subs Unused: 15 Lewis Hornby 16 Jack O’Connor 17 Brett Solkhon

Yellow cards: None

Cirencester Town : 1 Glyn Garner 2 Ben Brown 3 Ellis Dunton 4 James Mortimer-Jones 5 Matt Liddiard 6 Matt Coupe 7 Dan Demkiv 8 Adam Connolly 9 Alan Griffin 10 Henry Spalding (12 Charlie Griffin,88) 11 Kerry Morgan (15 Kieran Diaz-Benitez 66)

Subs unused: 16 Ryan Elliott 17 Lewis Thompson

Yellow Cards: Dunton,22 and 64; A Griffin,45+2;Coupe,90. Red Card: Dunton.64