Noel-Williams is the late Poppies hero

 

Isiah Noel-Williams shows his delight after his late winner

 

 

 

KETTERING TOWN 2 LEISTON 1

 

There is an old saying in football that it's the sign of a good team when they win despite being far from their best. And that was very much the case on Saturday at a wet and windy Latimer Park as The Poppies left it late to defeat a dogged Leiston side.

With storm Bert arriving just in time for kick-off the conditions were never going to make this game a classic. Both teams were in good form, Kettering were unbeaten in nine games and the visitors hadn't tasted defeat in their previous eight. Kettering were without the suspended Devon Kelly-Evans and the injured Lewis White and Wes York returned to the side with Isiah Noel-Williams dropping to the bench. Richard Lavery went with a different formation as his side lined up in a 4-4-2.

 

Leiston kicked the game of attacking The Tin Hat with The Poppies kicking towards the Morrison's end.

Kettering started the game well, pushing Leiston back and had an early attempt at goal when Jonny Edwards sent a 25 yard strike wide of the post. Wes York came even closer minutes later when he took a pass from Nile Ranger and from the edge of the area powered a shot on goal that was well tipped over the bar by former Poppies keeper Billy Johnson.

But Kettering did take the lead after thirteen minutes through the Jonny Edwards. Andi Thanoj played a neat header out to Tyree Wilson who beat his full-back before rolling the ball to Edwards who took the ball with his right foot giving him a yard of space to roll the ball past Johnson and into the bottom corner with his left. Minutes later Tyree Wilson went down and with the FA Cup clash with Doncaster Rovers just a week away he was withdrawn as a precaution and replaced by Kai Fifield.

For the rest of the half Leiston had most of the ball. But despite having a lot of possession Dan Jezeph in the Poppies goal was a spectator. Kettering were defending well against the lively Leiston attack of George Quantrell and Jamar Loza and restricted them to a couple of crosses flashed across The Poppies area and a couple of good blocks from Aaron Powell. The final chance of the half came for the home side when Ben Hart swung over a free-kick that found Connor Johnson but the flag was up for offside and the referee blew for half-time.

Half-Time: Kettering Town 1 Leiston 0

 

As Kettering re-started the second half attacking a packed Tin Hat end the rain was really coming down heavily and the wind was getting stronger as the pitch became heavier. The match was becoming scrappy and The Poppies were giving away possestion too easily. Leiston were controlling the midfield but again, like in the first half were not really creating any clear cut chances.

Leiston had a half chance when Kettering failed to clear the ball from a free-kick and from eight yards out Fraser Alexander saw his effort deflected for a corner off Wes York. With Leiston now really bossing the midfield fresh legs were needed and manager Lavery took the bold move of taking off first half substitute Kai Fifield replacing him with Isiah Noel-Williams. Fifield was clearly unhappy with the decision as he took his shirt off, launched it into the dugout before heading back to the dressing room.

Nile Ranger then had a chance to wrap the game up when he intercepted a stray Leiston pass and raced clear on goal. With just Johnson to beat, Ranger tried to lift the ball over his head but to his credit Johnson stayed big and got two strong hands on the ball before it was cleared. In the next attempt on eighty minutes Leiston drew level with their first real chance of the game. Ismael Fatadjo played a neat through ball that Connor Johnson could not cut out and George Quantrell raced clear to slide the ball past Jezeph and level the scores.

 

There was a chance for Kettering to retake the lead when Isiah Noel-Williams flicked a Ben Hart corner goalwards but it was hacked away before Gary Stohrer had to be aware to stop Jamar Loza from racing away on goal with a well timed tackle. But as it looked like The Poppies would drop points for the second week running at Latimer Park they netted an 89th minute winner. 

Aaron Powell's cross found its way to Ben Hart who's shot from ten yards was straight at Johnson. But as the keeper showed many times last season in a Kettering shirt he is prone to an error and he spilled Hart's effort straight to sub Gary Hooper and he found Isiah Noel-Williams who fired into the net from six yards out to spark wild celebrations in the Tin Hat and amongst the players.

Kettering were able to see the game out after that and remain four points clear at the top of the league table. This also means despite having no league fixture next week they will remain top of the league. It wasn't a pretty performance by The Poppies and in truth it was one of their poorer performances of the season. But with the conditions and the FA Cup match with Doncaster bound to be on the players mind this could turn out to be a vital three points come the end of the season.

Next up for The Poppies in next Sunday's FA Cup clash with Doncaster Rovers at a sold out Latimer Park.

Full-Time: Kettering Town 2 Leiston 1

 

Kettering Town Team: Jezeph, Hart, Powell, Stohrer, Johnson, Mbayo, York, Thanoj, Ranger, Edwards (Sub Hooper), Wilson (Sub Fifield, Sub Noel-Williams)

Subs (Not used) - Jarvis, Miller

Bookings: Hart, Johnson, Noel-Williams, Jezeph

Leiston Team: Johnson, Yun (Sub Armin), Saunders, Ryan Jarvis (Sub Curtis), Clements, Rossi Jarvis, Fatadjo (Sub Oldman), Alexander, Fowkes (Sub Rayworth), Quantrell, Loza

Sub (Not used) - Jackson

Bookings: Quantrell, Rossi Jarvis

Att: 881

Poppies Man Of The Match: Jonny Edwards