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Match Report

Evo-Stik League South Premier Division Central

Saturday 12thJanuary 2019   3:00pm

    Referee:  Wayne Barratt                   Assistants William Ottaway and Scott Hamilton

Under grey skies but an excellent looking playing surface Coalville in back and white striped shirts and black shorts kicked off withTim Berridge carving his way through the Kettering defence with no player challenging him but his ball played diagonally into the box came to nothing. Kettering had their first, but not to be their last penalty appeal when Rhys Hoenes took an early tumble in the box after three minutes when he was contacted by a defender.  Four minutes later good inter-passing between Dion Kelly-Evans and Dan Holman down the right wing gave DKE the chance to deliver a good high ball across the box.  Adam Cunnington rose highest but didn't get the desired contact on the ball and it continued it's path towards the left where Hoenes took possession and fed the ball back into the middle for a defender to head behind for a corner which was well defended and cleared.

Tom McGlinchy broke down the left for Coalville and DKE found himself outnumbered as McManus ran on the overlap. McGlinchey played the ball inside though and ran onto the ball played into the penalty area. Paul White had to be alert to keep out the ball and with the help of Declan Towers defended the follow up attempt. Ten minutes later Coalville broke down the right Stohrer was beaten on the outside. The ball was passed inside where the attacker hit a hard shot which hit Craig Stanley standing three yards away which was greeted by delusional shouts for a penalty by the home team. Two minutes later Kettering got their first lucky escape. Luke Shaw advanced down the right and crossed the ball towards the penalty spot. It was too high for Marcus Kelly and Kieren Fenton ghosted in behind and directed a glancing header goalwards. His aim was fractionally out and a static White gratefully caught the rebound from the base of the post which flew straight into his hands. 

Kettering had to make an unplanned substitution after 24 minutes when Brett Solkhon limped off with a calf injury he was replaced by Lathaniel Rowe-Turner who slotted in at left back with Stohrer moving into midfield. Shortly after Stanley picked up a yellow card for a foul. DKE was exposed in another 2 v 1 situation  with McGlinchy and McManus combining but the delivery into the box was cleared well by Kelly's covering header. Play moved up to the other end and Hoenes chased a ball with Fenton who won the race and passed it back to Walton allowed the ball travel across the whole of his area.  Hoenes closed him down and the keeper hurriedly attempted to clear the ball. It was a poor attempt and went straight at Dan Holman who managed to send the ball back towards goal with him following. Walton redeemed for is error and rushed at Holman and did enough to divert Holman's shot behind for a corner. Kettering finished the half well and put Coalville's goal under some pressure but did not make the most of the chances created. 

Half Time: Coalville Town  0   Kettering Town 0

At half time Aaron O'Connor replaced Adam Cunnington who was suffering from a back injury.  Ten minutes into the half Kettering had their second let off when Tim Berridge ran onto a ball over the top from Luke Shaw. He had managed to get goal side of Stanley and first touch sent the ball towards the far post which with White beaten, hit the post and was put safe behind by Towers.  Two minutes later the woodwork failed to save Kettering a third time. A corner from the right was played deep towards the far post where three Ravens waited. Kyle Perry was unchallenged and had a simple task of nodding the ball home. 1-0 Coalville 62 mins

Three minutes later Kettering were level. DKE was probing own the right wing the ball was cleared back towards Kettering's end where it was collected by Hoenes who had fallen back to cover as right back. He passed the ball to DKE's feet who comprehensively beat the player marking him with a beautiful turn he advance to the by-line and just as he looked to be shaping up to lift the ball into the goal area he turned the ball back to Holman unmarked fifteen yards out in the centre of the box. Dan picked his spot and passed the ball into the back of the net.  1-1 Kettering 65 mins

Nine minutes later Coalville regained the lead with a goal almost a carbon copy of the first. A corner from the left swung into the box and met by the stooping Perry to put the ball away. 2-1 Coalville 74 mins. It was a brave header as in scoring he took a stray boot in the face from Towers which require lengthy treatment.                   

With seven minutes of normal time Paul White made an important save to keep Kettering's hopes alive when Berridge found himself one on one with the Irishman. With less than five minutes remaining Kettering made their last change with Ben Milnes replacing Stanley.  Almost straight after Kettering had another big penalty shout when Holman in possession on the edge of the area pushed the ball into the box and was prevented from following by being cut down by the defender.  An angry Aaron O'Connor remonstrated with the referee to be joined by Holman once he'd picked himself up of the deck. The ref responded by booking the pair of them for dissent. It was somewhat ironic as the referee had warned the Coalville keeper numerous times for timewasting to the extent he had words with Coalville's bench about the matter but did not see fit to caution Walton. 

With time running out Coalville made their first change to run the clock down further. With 91 minutes played Gary Stohrer picked the ball up five yards deep in his own half. He made a surging run forward and played a perfect through ball for AO'C to run onto, take round the keeper and walk into the net. 2-2 Kettering 91 mins.

Two minutes later Kettering another penalty appeal turned down. Holman lifted the ball forward for Hoenes to run onto. Rhys pace was winning the race so McManus desperately tried to shield the ball to the extent that when he managed to force Hoenes off his feet he fell as well. Goal kick was the ref's decision. Another substitution followed by a Coalville bench who only saw one winner to the match. Kettering were pushing for that winner and Rhys got into the box again and rather than try for goal himself tried to play in AO'C in the middle but a defender's heel managed to divert the ball away for a corner. A well delivered corner was headed goal wards by Kettering's Towers but was pushed around the post by Coalville's Towers with a generous application of force by his arms. The referee could claim to be unsighted but the linesman would have had a clear view but obviously no bottle. 

Full Time: Coalville Town  2   Kettering Town 2

Yellow Kettering;  Stanley – foul - O'Connor, Holman - dissent

             Coalville:  None

Attendance 432 (Largest of the season).

Kettering Town Man-of-the-Match – Dan Holman