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Match Report

TODAY’S MATCH SPONSOR: IN THE MEMORY OF RYAN KIRK AND DYLAN CECIL IN A NUTSHELL: The scoreline of 2-0 with goals from Aaron O’Connor and Brett Solkhon was a poor reflection of the game dominated by the Poppies. Only a superb performance from visiting keeper Tom Price, who was the outstanding performer on the day, kept the score down at respectable levels. His opposite number,Paul White, had only one save to make in the 90 minutes. THE KETTERING SQUAD: Michael Richens returned to league action.Gary Stohrer and Matthew Stevens got the nod in front of Rhys Hoenes and Rene Howe who were on the bench. Durrell Berry, James Brighton and Ben Baker remain injured, with Marshall Willock returning injured to Chesterfield. TEAM LINE-UPS: Kettering Town: 1 Paul White 2 Liam Bateman 3 Ben Toseland 4 Brett Solkhon (Captain) 5 Gary Mulligan 6 Michael Richens (16 Munashe Sundire,78) 7 Gary Stohrer 8 Aaron O’Connor 12 Matty Stevens (9 Rene Howe,63) 10 Ben Milnes (14 Rhys Hoenes,56) 11 Lindon Meikle Unused Substitutes: 15 Jair Minors 17 Callum Snow Yellow card: Richens,26 Gosport Borough: 1 Tom Price 2 Ben Buckland (12 Alex Sanchez,75) 3 Harry Medway 4 Eddie Wakley 5 Lee Molyneaux ( Captain) 6 Ed Saunders 7 Frankie Paige (Matt Sinclair,71) 8 Alfie Lis 9 James Thompson (Iffy Onuwachu,81) 10 Conor Davis 11 Jack Breed Unused Substitutes: 16 Scott Walters 17 Lewis Watch Yellow Card: Wakley,79 HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED: A bitterly cold wind met the supporters and players today at Latimer Park as Kettering started at some pace. Three early corners were forced and Michael Richens’ header from the first was somehow blocked. Then Matthew Stevens was sent flying in the penalty area with claims for a penalty waived away. From the third Brett Solkhon’s header was blocked near the goal-line. The Poppies took the lead on 6 minutes.Aaron O’Connor got the better of his marker, ran on and lashed his right foot shot high into the net. The ball was in the net a couple of minutes later as Gary Stohrer headed across goal and Matthew Stevens headed in- but the Assistant’s flag intervened for an offside. Ben Milnes’ 12th minute free kick was hurredly kicked away and Stevens saw another good effort blocked. Tom Price in the Borough goal was rarely out of the game and he blocked another Stevens shot with his legs. Then Stohrer’s goalbound shot was deflected away for a corner. Price excelled on 24 minutes when he made a great save from a Stevens shot. Gosport did get a corner on 28 minutes which was cleared away. Soon the Poppies threatened again as Stevens poked a shot wide. It really was all Kettering and Ben Toseland’s dangerous cross from the left was scrambled clear. In the lead up to half time, Stevens headed a Milnes corner over the bar and O’Connor’s shot was well saved by Price. Half Time: Kettering Town 1 - 0 Gosport Borough Early in the half Price made about his only mistake of the game as he spilled O’Connor’s cross from the right, but Stevens could not control the loose ball and the chance was gone. On 49 minutes, Price made a fantastic save as he got to a Stevens shot. A minute later Gosport had their second corner which was easily cleared. It was soon another Kettering chance as Lindon Meikle’s cross saw O’Connor head over as both he and Stevens went for the same header. Another O’Connor shot saw the keeper put wide for a corner and from the restart, Richens headed over. Gary Stohrer had a clear shooting chance on the hour but dragged the right foot shot wide. Then Gary Mulligan headed wide from a free kick. Rene Howe replaced the hardworking Stevens and his first touch- a header from Toseland’s corner- saw Price save. Kettering doubled the lead on 68 minutes. Brett Solkhon’s powerful header from Toseland’s free kick beat Price as it was high in the top corner. Within a couple of minutes, Price made an exceptional save from Stohrer, and in another two minutes stretched for a great take from Howe’s cross. Richens saw a low shot deflected for a corner and then Ed Saunders made a timely intervention taking the ball off substitute Rhys Hoenes’ foot as he shaped to fire in. On 83 minutes, Price was sharply off his line to boot clear from Hoenes. Borough got their one and only shot on target in the 86th minute as the shivering White saved from Conor Davis. As the game entered the final minutes, Toseland’s free kick was over the bar and Price then made an unbelievable save from a Hoenes piledriver. Price then saved from Howe to keep the scoreline respectable for the Borough, who never stopped battling. The Poppies now have two tough away games- at Banbury on Tuesday and Frome on Saturday. Full Time: Kettering Town 2 - 0 Gosport Borough Attendance: 565 Klondike: Still to be claimed and will win £120 with ticket number: 20063 Elgoods Brewery Poppies Man of the Match selected by Sponsors, In the memory of Ryan Kirk and Dylan Cecil: Aaron O’Connor 12th man draw winners: Gold Prize: G12 - D and G Coles – signed shirt or two tickets for travel on away coach and match tickets. £100: S05 – Pam Palmer £60: G14 – Maurice Tonet £10: S09- Gary Gardiner;£10: G16-Mark Butts;£10 G20 – Ray Edis; £10 G19 Martin Turner