Poppies raze Foresters’ chances

KETTERING TOWN’S second half fight-back saw them sweep aside Cinderford Town to clinch a convincing victory.

The Foresters started brightly, displaying some neat passing football before the visitors started imposing themselves, with Aaron O’Connor coming close through a well-struck leftfooted effort.

James Hall then brought a superb diving save from Cameron Clarke as the Poppies exerted heavy pressure on the home goal.

With Cinderford too often

CINDERFORD T 1 KETTERING T 3

giving away possession, Aaron O’Connor tested Clarke again and Liam Canavan should have done better when presented with a good opportunity.

Jarrad Welch rattled visiting keeper Paul White’s bar with a superb free-kick, while Liam Bateman’s spectacular overhead effort was well stopped by Clarke.

Defensive hesitation by Kettering saw Nick Harrhy have the time and space to feed Welch, who rounded White to slot home with aplomb.

Superb control by Welch saw him work another scoring opportunity, but he missed the target when well set.

A scramble on Cinderford’s goal-line followed this, but Canavan failed to force the ball home.

But the Poppies battled back in the final quarter hour.

First James Brighton’s leftfooted free-kick levelled the scores on 75 minutes.

At the other end, Sammy Hicks’ long throw-in was flicked on, but Lewis Bamford failed to capitalise before Welch rounded the keeper but couldn’t put the ball in the net.

Shortly afterwards Aaron O’Connor, in the same situation as Welch, scored coolly to put Kettering ahead.

Poppies substitute Ben Baker then wrapped up the points with an assured finish in the dying minutes.