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Match Report

Peterborough United won the Maunsell Cup Final 3-0 at Latimer Park with goals from Matty Stevens and a brace from Matt Godden.

Kettering Town faced a strong Peterborough United side in the Maunsell Cup final, who included former loanee Matt Stevens and new signing Callum Cooke from Middlesbrough in their line-up.  The Poppies had three trialists in their squad, Lathinel Rowe, Mason Rhiney, and Jevanni Miller-Davidson. 

Kettering Town 

1.   Paul White

2.   Durrell Berry

3.   Ben Toseland (Declan Towers 68)

5.   Gary Stohrer

6.   Orrin Pendley

7.   Lindon Meikle

10. Ben Milnes  (Marcus Kelly 45)

11. Rhys Hoenes

12. Craig Westcarr (Aaron O’Connor 45)

9.   Michael Richens

16. Lathinel Rowe

Subs not used

4.    Jack O’Connor

17.  Mason Rhiney

18.  Jevanni Miller-Davidson

19.  Brett Solkhon

Peterborough United:

1.   Conor O’Malley

2.   Joe Ward (Lewis Freestone 70)

3.   Tyler Denton

4.   Sam Cartwright

5.   Josh Yorworth

6.   Louis Reed

7.   Isaac Buckley-Ricketts

8.   Jermaine Anderson (Harrison Burrows 68)

9.   Matt Godden

10. Matt Stevens

11. Callum Cooke (Kyle Barker 70)

Subs not used

Mark Tyler

Oliver Shackleton

Yellow card: Josh Yorworth

The early exchanges in this game belonged to Peterborough with  Buckley-Ricketts, Matt Godden and Callum Cooke  giving the Poppies defence a testing time.  After 9 minutes goalkeeper Paul White was brought into action coming out of his goalmouth to deny an onrushing Matt Stevens.  It was the former Poppy loanee Stevens though that broke the deadlock after 20 minutes, tapping in from close range after Buckley-Ricketts initial shot was blocked.  White again had to deal with Stevens a minute later, punching the ball away from the young striker.  On 25 minutes White produced a superb diving fingertip save from Buckley-Ricketts, and from the resulting corner Stevens missed a golden opportunity to put the visitors further ahead. 

The Posh were pressing as the half went on and scored their second goal after 31 minutes when Godden hit a shot into the top right hand corner of the net, giving White no chance. Louis Reed continued the League One sides’ assault on the trophy with a shot well wide when a goal seemed certain.

The Poppies best chance came after 35 minutes, when Craig Westcarr latched onto a loose ball, saw the keeper was out of his area and tried a deft lob from around 35 yards, Conor O’Malley got something on it, as the referee signalled for a corner, from the resulting set piece Durrell Berry (pictured) had his shot blocked inside the 6 yard box.  Kettering showed their endeavor throughout the first half with Rhys Hoenes causing the visiting defence all kinds of problems, giving Ben Milnes the final chance of the half, but his shot was easily caught by O’Malley from close range.

Half time:  Kettering Town 0-2 Peterborough United

Hoenes opened the second half with a speculative shot that went wide, but the evening was put to bed after 57 minutes when Durrell Berry fouled Godden inside the penalty area.  The resulting penalty saw Peterborough go 3-0 ahead as Godden scored his second of the night.  Marcus Kelly saw his best effort of the evening, a good turn and a shot expertly saved by the diving O’Malley.  Peterborough responded on 67 minutes with Buckley-Ricketts hitting a stunner only to see his effort hitting the bar, bouncing down on the line and away from the goalmouth.

The Poppies though finished stronger with Pendley, Aaron O’Connor and Kelly again on 86 minutes all testing the keeper.

On the night Peterborough seemed just that yard quicker, dealt with the Poppies forward threat and put the ball away when it mattered.  A good work out for Marcus Law’s side as he now turns his attention to Bedford Town

Full Time: Kettering Town 0-3 Peterborough United

Poppies Man of the Match– Rhys Hoenes

Attendance: 408

Klondike Winner – 26837 – Brian Norton, wins £100.

The Poppies face Bedford Town in the Newlands Shield on Saturday August 4th, a 1:30pm kick-off, followed by the Dylan Cecil Memorial Match.