GLOUCESTER CITY 2-0 KETTERING TOWN
IN BRIEF:
It was a routine home win tonight for the Tigers of Gloucester City as they dominated this game. Two goals from striker Kieran Phillips in a four-minute spell around the hour mark were enough to see off an impotent Kettering team. If not for a number of saves from on loan keeper Owen Mason the margin could have been higher as home keeper Brandon Hall was not called into serious action all game.
THE KETTERING SQUAD:
The Poppies were without star loanees Frankie Maguire and Jimmy Knowles, with Sam Bennett restored to the starting line up, Decarrey Sheriff started and Ben Sault was on the bench.
THE TEAMS:
GLOUCESTER CITY:
1 Brandon Hall
2 Daniel Leadbitter
3 Owen Evans
4 Tommy O’Sullivan
7 Jack James
8 Dara Dada (17 Jack Hill,90)
10 Dom McHale (Captain) (9 Matthew Barnes-Homer,76)
14 Toby Obadeyi
19 Junior Tiensa
23 Ben Morgan
45 Kieran Phillips
Unused substitutes:
18 Andry Demira
27 Elliot Jones
Yellow Cards: None
KETTERING TOWN:
1 Owen Mason
6 Brad Gascoigne
7 Sam Bennett (19 Tyrone Lewthwaite,64)
8 Gary Stohrer (Captain)
10 Keaton Ward
11 Rhys Sharpe
12 George Cooper
14 Ethan Hill (20 Ben Sault,76)
15 Ellis Myles
16 George Forsyth
17 Decarrey Sheriff
Unused Substitutes:
3 Josh Flanagan
4 Lewis White
21 Harry Hogg
Yellow Cards: None
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:
Gloucester were to have around 75% possession in this half as Kettering struggled to get anything going at all. The home team, on their artificial surface, were able to play keep ball for long periods but failed to convert their chances.
Within a minute of kick off home skipper, Dom McHale had a great chance to score as he met a cross from the left- but he headed over the bar. Diminutive home striker, Kieran Phillips then did the same thing just a few minutes later.
Kettering’s first entry into the home half, on 10 minutes, saw Keaton Ward’s cross from the right intercepted by a defender. Two minutes later, George Forsyth lost possession and Phillips’ cross come shot drifted wide.
Owen Mason cut out a dangerous cross from McHale and on 17 minutes his free kick was just over the bar. Kettering did win a corner a couple of minutes later due to Decarrey Sheriff’s persistence - but nothing came of it.
On 25 minutes Ellis Myles came forward and with a good run his shot was held by Brandon Hall. As a third of the game passed it had been almost all Gloucester. Home striker, Tope Obadeyi was guilty of a bad miss on 32 minutes as he met a cross from the left and, with the goal at his mercy, he headed badly over the target.
The Poppies then had a lucky escape as Phillips sped clear on the left and his shot was well saved by Mason with the rebound being hit against the bar. McHale then got away again on the right but the shot was well wide. Similarly, a rare Kettering break saw Sheriff miscue his right foot shot wide from 23 yards.
Just before the break a mistake by Ethan Hill let in Junior Tiensia but Mason pulled off the save. Finally in the half, the otherwise quiet Sam Bennett rattled a shot high over the bar.
Half Time:
GLOUCESTER CITY 0 - 0 KETTERING TOWN
The second period started as the first half ended as McHale’s shot was blocked out after a home corner Another shot soon followed and from the rebound Obadeyi’s shot was well saved by Mason.
McHale continued to cause problems and his 55th minute shot was just wide. Gloucester were not to be outdone though, and scored on 58 minutes. Obadeyi had time and space on the left to cross low and Phillips applied a neat touch to beat the diving Mason.
Worse was to come for Kettering just four minutes later as Phillips scored a second. This time it was a controlled header from Owen Evans’ cross, giving Mason no chance.
Obadeyi put a decent chance wide before Kettering managed to get up the field and Sheriff won a corner. From this restart, George Cooper headed wide. On 75 minutes, Kettering had a chance as a defensive error saw Keaton Ward away on the left. His left foot shat though was badly wide- summing up Kettering’s night. Soon after, a promising Myles run saw his cross frantically cleared by the home defence.
For City, Phillips almost got his hat trick, but Mason made a great save. In the 81st minute Rhys Sharpe made his first long throw of the game into the home six-yard box, which lead to two consecutive Kettering corners. The result of this was a swift break by City and Phillips saw Mason save.
Mason then saved two Obadeyi shots within a minute and the same player got clear on 87 minutes only for the keeper to make another excellent save. In the last minute of normal time Kettering’s Sharpe got in a great saving tackle.
The final action of the game, in added time, should have seen a Kettering goal as Gary Stohrer’s cross found substitute Tyrone Lewthwaite. With keeper Hall in no mans land the Kettering striker headed over the gaping goal. It summed up the night for Kettering,
Full Time:
GLOUCESTER CITY 2 - 0 KETTERING TOWN
Match Officials: Referee: Harry Warner; Assistants: James Lunn and Mark Billingham
Attendance: Not announced (Kettering fans and officials estimated at 30)
Poppies Media Elgoods Brewery Man of the Match: Owen Mason
Match Report by Sadman KTFC.
Forthcoming matches:
MARCH:
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