O’CONNOR DELIVERS A MAJESTIC SHOWING
TEN-man Kettering Town produced a performance of heart and gutsy determination to overcome a lacklustre Chesham United.
For the neutral the game had it all – controversy, goals from the halfway line and a red card. It even ended with the usually restrained Poppies manager Marcus Law roaring with delight in front of the home faithful.
It was Aaron O’Connor who sparked the game into life on 12 minutes, bringing a looping ball down before turning and sending a thunderous shot towards goal which needed Chesham keeper Hafed Aldroubi to perform acrobatics to keep the scores level. The resulting corner however brought an opening to the scoring as Ben Milnes’ cross was met by the head of O’Connor.
Then the moment that threatened to change the complexion of the match as Kettering goalkeeper Paul White was shown a straight red on 21 minutes for an alleged punch on Victor Osobu as Chesham lined up for a corner of their own.
The incident happened right in front of referee Mark Tinseley who, moments before, had warned the players about their conduct. With no substitute keeper on the bench, Kettering’s captain Brett Solkhon went in goal.
But despite the man advantage Chesham could not get into the game and it was the hosts who threatened to add to their lead.
Kettering’s two other best chances of the first half fell to O’Connor, first missing an open goal on 29 minutes, before forcing an audacious goalline clearance from Adam Pepera, after sending the ball goalwards from 18 yards out on the stroke of half-time.
The controversy came on 53 minutes with the visitors winning a free-kick inside their own half.
The ball had clearly rolled 15 yards beyond the initial incident’s location but it didn’t stop Matt Beavens catching the Poppies unaware and propelling the ball over a stranded Solkhon.
But that would be the visitors’ only highlight as the men in red rolled up their sleeves and continued to create chances. The introduction of Peterborough loanee Matthew Stevens once again gave Kettering the edge and it was he who latched on to an O’Connor short cross to tap in from five yards .
The Kettering fans endured a nervy final 10 minutes as Kettering set up to hold on but O’Connor settled it late on.