Match Report

MATCH SPONSOR: JOHN DREWNICKI

IN A NUTSHELL: Kettering won the game 2-0 with goals from Liam Canavan in the 43rd minute and Wilson Carvalho in the 90th minute. The game changer was the dismissal of Boston Central defender,Joe Maguire in only the 22nd minute. Boston’s 10 men gave it their all but in reality Kettering keeper, Paul White had little to do as Kettering seemed happy to sit on their 1-0 lead in the second half until a late break saw the second goal.

THE KETTERING SQUAD: With Rene Howe starting a 4 game ban after his sending off last week and an unsuccessful appeal, Spencer Weir-Daley and Nathan Hicks started with Aaron O’Connor on the bench. Brett Solkhon replaced the injured Lewis Hornby and fit again, James Brighton, replaced Kaid Mohamed.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED: The adverse weather no doubt again affected the attendance and as the game kicked off the heavens opened for a really heavy downpour. Boston, with a decent away following, looked industrious in the opening exchanges, but didn’t threaten until the 12th minute when ex Stamford striker, Gregg Smith turned well to shoot low and wide of the right post. Kettering’s main threat was from set pieces as they gained a number of free kicks and Boston’s central defender Joe Maguire earned a 15th minute yellow card after three fouls. The nearest the Poppies came to scoring was a free kick, but keeper Michael Emery, saved well from Liam Canavan’s accurate kick. The Poppies had a great chance on 19 minutes. Nathan Hicks’ cross from the right was headed across goal by James Brighton and Spencer Weir-Daley, a former Boston player, made a hash of an open goal from three yards out. Maguire had committed another foul after his yellow card and then, impeding Weir-Daley, he incurred the Referee’s wrath and received a second yellow card. Perhaps a final word from Official may have sufficed. As the writer said after the sending off last week:‘these things have way of evening out over the season’… Gregg Smith became an emergency centre back. Emery was alert enough to get out to clear a loose ball under pressure from Weir-Daley. Brighton then almost sent Weir-Daley clear but the striker could just not get to the ball. Boston counter-attacked on 35 minutes with the lively Jason St Juste seeing his cross deflected onto the top of the bar. For Kettering Canavan passed through for Hicks but his shot looped high over the bar. Then Hicks sent Weir-Daley clear but he was halted by the Assistant’s flag. The Poppies were now well in control and took the lead in the 43rd minute. Dom Langdon ran on down the left and stroked a low cross for Canavan to guide his low shot past Emery. With Kettering rampant, Smith got in two tremendous headed blocks.The first from Hicks’ shot whilst on the floor, and the second- a key header which deflected Brighton’s goal bound shot just wide.

Half Time: Kettering Town 1 - 0 Boston United

The Pilgrims changed things at the start of the half with right back Kalern Thomas and forward Waide Fairhust sacrificed. On came Lewis Hilliard in midfield and Joe Burgess in central defence in a 3-5-1 formation with wide men St Juste and Rollins supporting Smith up top. Kettering continued with their formation with Weir-Daley the sole striker. Smith headed an early cross from the right back across goal and it was clear that Boston had come out in positive mood. Kettering had a couple of shots as Hicks fired well wide and Carvalho’s shot was wild. Substitute Joe Burgess got in an excellent saving header from Carvalho’s dangerous cross in the 54th minute, and Brighton’s shot a minute later was charged down. Hicks fired wide yet again and the Poppies had a couple of fruitless corners. With Kettering content to contain the game entered the final quarter with still only one goal in it. On 74 minutes Brett Solkhon met a cross and his header hit the post and an Assistant’s flag prevented any chance from the rebound. Joe Robinson then blocked Weir-Daley’s shot. Anthony Howell replaced the limping Canavan and Kaid Mohamed came on when Liam Bateman sustained a leg injury to force Brighton back into defence. Howell won a header from a 78th minute corner and Weir-Daley hit the side netting. Burgess then got in another block from Weir-Daley’s shot. Boston did get a chance,on the left, as the ball fell for left back Ben Gordon- but,off balance, he skewed the shot wide. Carvalho shot wide for Kettering before a final assault from Boston came a few minutes from the end. Skipper Liam Agnew could just not control a ball into the penalty area and the Pilgrims had a free kick and two corners which were all cleared. A last ditch attack from Boston broke down with Brighton winning a key challenge. Brighton raced down the left fully 60 yards and passed low to Carvalho. The wide man turned his man and fired gleefully past Emery to seal the game. The Poppies now await Monday’s Fourth Round Qualifying draw, before visiting St Neots for the second time in three weeks for a league cup game on Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off).

Full Time: Kettering Town 2 - 0 Boston United

Attendance: 628

Sponsor, John Drewnicki’s Poppies Man of the Match: Brett Solkhon

Klondike (£170) Number 2592. Winner: Neil Burton

Team line-ups: Kettering Town: 1 Paul White 2 Liam Bateman (15 Kaid Mohamed,69) 3 Dom Langdon 4 Brett Solkhon (Captain) 5 James Haran 6 Gary Mulligan 7 Wilson Carvalho 8 Spencer Weir-Daley 9 Liam Canavan (14 Anthony Howell,73) 10 Nathan Hicks 11 James Brighton

Subs Unused: 12 Ben Baker 16 Ethan Lee 17 Jamie Dean 18 Aaron O’Connor 19 Jordan Wilson

Yellow cards: Haran,50;White,82

Boston United 1 Michael Emery 2 Kalern Thomas (15 Joe Burgess,46) 3 Ben Gordon 4 Marcus Marshall 5 Joe Maguire 6 Joe Robinson 7 Jay Rollins 8 Liam Agnew (Captain) 9 Wade Fairhurst (14 Lewis Hilliard,46) 10 Gregg Smith 11 Jason St Juste

Subs Unused: 12 Liam Colley 13 Harry Payne 16 Courtney Wildin 17 Liam Adams 18 Ollie Price

Yellow Cards: Smith,23;St Juste,45+2;

Red Card: Maguire,22 (2 yellows,15 and 22)