HEREFORD 1-0 KETTERING TOWN
IN BRIEF:
The Poppies today suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Edgar Street, the home of Hereford, with the only goal of the game coming in the 56th minute. On-loan keeper, and Kettering’s man of the match, Owen Mason, made some crucial saves, keeping his side in the game and despite some heavy Kettering pressure after the goal they could not find the all important equaliser.
THE KETTERING SQUAD:
The starting eleven was unchanged and Tyrone Lewthwaite was the only change on the bench, replacing Sam Bennett.
THE TEAMS:
HEREFORD:
31 Dino Visser
6 Kane Thompson-Sommers
7 Ryan Mclean (23 Tyrone Barnett,79)
8 Ryan Lloyd (Captain)
9 Aaron Amadi-Holloway
11 Miles Storey
15 Jethro Hanson
25 Jack Holmes
30 Levi Andoh
34 Jamie Egan
36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather
Unused substitutes:
2 Jared Hodgkiss
5 Zak Lilly
19 Justice Campbell
35 Aneurin Livermore
Yellow Cards:
Amadi-Holloway,38; McLean,45+1; Storey,75; Andoh,87
KETTERING TOWN:
1 Owen Mason
2 Frankie Maguire
6 Brad Gascoigne
8 Gary Stohrer (Captain)
9 Jimmy Knowles
10 Keaton Ward
11 Rhys Sharpe
12 George Cooper
14 Ethan Hill (17 Decarrey Sheriff,69)
15 Ellis Myles
16 George Forsyth (19 Tyrone Lewthwaite,83)
Unused Substitutes:
3 Josh Flanagan
4 Lewis White
21 Harry Hogg
Yellow Cards: None
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
The playing surface was good as the game kicked off in overcast and chilly conditions.
The Bulls started at some pace, putting the Poppies onto the back foot and only a great saving tackle by Rhys Sharpe on Miles Storey prevented the lively forward from getting his shot in from around 12 yards. Continuing to surge forward, Hereford created a second chance in only the 4th minute as Ryan McLean got a free run in on goal on the right and Kettering keeper, Owen Mason, made an excellent save, getting down low to his right to push the low shot away for a corner. From the restart, an unchallenged header was cleared away from the line by a Sharpe header.
Kettering’s Sharpe was well in the game and two early long throws into the six yard box were cleared by the home defenders. On 7 minutes, Kettering broke into the Hereford half and Jimmy Knowles forced his way into the penalty area on the left – but his shot went behind, failing to trouble home custodian, Dino Visser. On 14 minutes, Knowles was in action again, receiving a Keaton Ward pass and his shot was deflected wide for, what was to be, a fruitless corner.
Hereford, who were looking to get forward at pace, soon countered and Mason was in the right place to save a low Levi Andoh shot.
On 20 minutes the Poppies were gifted a chance as a mistake let in Knowles in a central position running into the penalty area. Only a great saving tackle, which was perfectly timed by Aaron Amadi-Holloway, stopped Kettering’s on-loan striker getting the shot in.
Hereford came back with a chance of their own, and again Mason was in the right place to save a low shot from McLean. It was end to end and Knowles for the Poppies seemed a little isolated, but nevertheless was causing problems and his 27th minute cross come shot on the left drifted behind the goal.
Hereford’s Andoh tried his luck again on 31 minutes but his shot was well over the crossbar. Keeper, Mason, was in action again as he pushed Storey’s point blank header over the bar.
All was not in any way doom and gloom for Kettering as they broke on 35 minutes. The combination of Knowles and Maguire on the break saw neat passing and Knowles’ low cross was met by Maguire, who hurried the shot and it drifted wide.
Mason again saved a low McLean shot- this time a more routine save- and just before the break the Maguire/Knowles combination again gave Knowles a shooting chance, but the shot was wide.
Half Time:
HEREFORD 0 - 0 KETTERING TOWN
There were no changes of personnel at half time.
Kettering ere first to show, with Knowles winning a corner. The cross came in and eventually fell at the feet of central defender Brad Gascoigne, whose shot was high and not so handsome.
Hereford scored on 56 minutes and some uncharacteristic defending by the Poppies saw an unchallenged header across goal find the unmarked Kane Thompson-Sommers who had an easy chance to head in.
Hereford followed this up with a Jethro Holmes shot fired over the bar. Kettering got to grips with the situation and began to put the home side under considerable pressure. George Cooper headed over the bar from a corner and Knowles had a great snapshot saved by Visser, albeit he was then flagged offside.
George Forsyth saw another header from a corner go wide and a number of Sharpe throws were repelled as Kettering camped in the home area. For a while it was ping pong in the Hereford penalty area as shot after shot was repelled and Forsyth saw a shot blocked. It was desperate defending by the Bulls.
Inevitably the home side broke away and the pacy Storey was given a golden chance to double the lead, and, with a clear one on one chance against Mason the young keeper pulled off a spectacular save to keep Kettering in the game.
Kettering brought on forwards, Decarrey Sheriff and Tyrone Lewthwaite- taking off midfielders, Ethan Hill and Forsyth in a move to force the equaliser, but, by and large, Hereford coped well and defended solidly.
Storey broke again for the Bulls with his shot hitting the angle of post and crossbar on 83 minutes and, as much as Kettering tried, the only real shot in anger, saw Knowles’ shot well saved by Visser. Very late Kettering pressure in the four minutes of added time came to nothing as Hereford got all three points.
Maybe a draw would have been a fairer result in the end analysis.
Full Time:
HEREFORD 1 - 0 KETTERING TOWN
Match Officials: Referee: Craig Scriven; Assistants:Tommy Breen and James Tewson
Attendance:1876 (Kettering fans and officials 100)
Poppies Media Elgoods Brewery Man of the Match: Owen Mason
Match Report by Sadman KTFC.
Forthcoming matches:
MARCH:
Tuesday 7th Away at Gloucester City at 7.45pm
Saturday 11th HOME to Chorley at 3pm
Saturday 18th: Away at Southport at 3pm
Saturday 25th HOME to Darlington at 3pm
Tuesday 28th HOME to Peterborough Sports at 7.45pm