Errors cost Poppies dear in Redditch defeat

 

 REDDITCH UNITED 3 KETTERING TOWN 2

So on Saturday Kettering Town were finally back in action following a two week enforced break when they made the trip to Redditch United. I made the trip up courtesy of a lift from Poppies left-back Aaron Powell's dad Simon (A top bloke by the way) and on route I was trying to explain what an afternoon at Redditch United is like. I could have lied and told him It's a wonderful little football club with really warm and welcoming fans. But I thought I'd tell the truth, that it's a horrible place with equally horrible supporters and a ground where on previous visits there has been plenty of unsavoury incidents.  

For the first time in many visits to Redditch the game was segregated. We were housed behind one of the goals and along the side to the tunnel. Only downside to that was the almost 15 minute walk from the main Car Park to the away turnstiles on Cedar Road. Would probably been nice if the guy taking the £3 for parking had explained that so you could have told him to keep his car park and just drive round and park on the street next to the away end. Anyway we found our way in, would say there was 200+ from Kettering that made the trip up and was probably a good job at the home sections of the stadium were looking very sparce.

Team news came in and thankfully captain Connor Johnson was back in after injury, as was Andi Thanoj for the first time since he limped off injured against Doncaster six weeks ago. Isiah Noel-Williams came back into the starting XI and Jonny Edwards replace Nile Ranger up front. Kai Fifield was originally due to start the game but he picked up an injury in the warm up and was replaced by Tyree Wilson.

For the first half we were pretty much on top through out. Having all of the ball and playing some neat football. Our first real sight of goal came when Ben Hart ran a good 15 yards unchallenged but from around 20 yards he sent his shot well over the bar. The next attack saw us come even closer when Devon Kelly-Evans crossed and Jonny Edwards saw his header from twelve yards well pushed over the bar by Redditch keeper Ollie Taylor. Neat play between Hart and Noel-Williams ended with Kelly-Evans shooting wildly over when well placed.

Callum Powell then had a shot that was deflected just over the bar before Tyree Wilson forced Taylor into another fine save with a shot that looked destined for the top corner. By now many Poppies fans were at a loss as to how we were not at least two goals ahead then in the last minute of the half we were hit with a sucker punch when Redditch scored with their first real chance of the game. Callum Powell gave the ball away on the half-way line to the one Redditch player with any quality Johnny Johnston and he race away from Powell before side stepping Lewis White and finding the bottom corner past Jezeph with a neat finish, It was a good goal from a player who on the afternoon did show why this was his last game for Redditch before he transferred to a full-time club.

So despite being by far the better side and making many chances we somehow went in at the break a goal down.

The second half saw The Poppies come out all guns blazing and by the 50th minute we were 2-1 in front. First of all following some neat one touch football Ty Wilson pulled the ball back to Kelly-Evans to side foot his first goal for the club past Taylor. Then barely sixty seconds later Callum Powell picked the ball up on the left, took the ball to the edge of the area and found Noel-Williams in space and he poked home a neat finish to put The Poppies ahead.

But that lead didn't last long, and again the goal Redditch scored came from a Kettering error rather than any good play from the home side. A aimless punt into the box saw Dan Jezeph shout to come and claim the ball but under pressure from ex Poppies striker Adi Yussuf he dropped the ball at the feet of Johnston and he rolled the ball into the net past a stranded Ben Hart on the goal line.

Right from the restart Kettering should have retaken the lead. Wilson did well out wide a put over a wonderful cross that Callum Powell and Jonny Edwards seemed to get in each others way and the ball just brushed out Powell's head and out for a goal kick. Another great chance again went begging for Kettering when the ball found Wilson unmarked but from eight yards out he dragged his effort wide of the goal.

But on 80 minutes the missed chances really did come back and haunt Kettering as Redditch again capitalised on more Kettering errors to take an 80th minute lead. A corner from the left was delivered deep to the far post very close to the goal line, again Jezeph failed to collect and with players ball watching Redditch captain Kyle Rowley saw his header sneak in the bottom corner. So somehow rather than being in front Kettering were now 3-2 behind.

For the remainder of the game it just became Kettering's attack verses Redditch's defence. Sub Nile Ranger found fellow sub Terrell Pennant and Pennant's low shot was superbly saved by Taylor and as the ball rolled out to Ranger his effort was somehow blocked from almost on the goal line by Ryan Inman. Taylor then made another fantastic save from a low effort from Noel-Williams and he was again the hero when he made another smart save at his near post from Pennant.

The final whistle went seconds later and we had lost the game. Unfortunately at full-time a few Redditch fans wanted to turn all Football Factory at the segregation fence but they soon moved away (well ran really) when the fence ended up being pushed over. Then some Redditch players seemed to want to get more involved with Kettering supporters than celebrate their victory. Strange behaviour really. 

But despite playing the better football throughout and created many chances we somehow lost the game. Football is about putting the ball in the net and Redditch did that better on the day. But it's such a blow when you lose to a side that have created nothing against you but you gift them three goals. We are having a real blip at the moment and it seems everything is going against us. A few weeks ago we would have come away from that game with a comfortable victory, but every mistake at the moment is being punished.

But everyone needs to stick together. I read some real over reactions on the socials after the game. We have not turned into a bad team overnight and I've every confidence that Lavs and Tom will turn this around and we will definitely be there or there abouts when it comes to winning the league. Just got to keep the faith and back the lads starting at home to Bromsgrove on Saturday.

Kettering Team: Jezeph, Hart, A.Powell, Kelly-Evans, Johnson, White, C,Powell (Sub Pennant), Thanoj, Edwards (Sub Ranger), Noel-Williams, Wilson

Subs (not used) - Miller, Mbayo, York

Att: 521

#UTP MOTM - Devon Kelly-Evans