Tunde is too hot for Poppies!
TOP SCORER Tunde Olowabi netted twice as FC United held off a late Kettering Town rally to cause an FA Trophy upset at Broadhurst Park.
The highly-rated Red Rebels front man netted a goal in either half to help the BetVictor Northern Premier Division side progress, deeming Luke Graham’s late reply as a mere consolation.
“It was an unbelievable performance from start to finish,” said delighted Red Rebels boss Neil Reynolds.
“Everything we did at training all week gave Kettering the respect they deserve – they’re in the league that we want to be in so we knew it was going to be tough to break them down.
“Yet, we did it time and time again and I’m delighted for everybody.
“This squad deserves massive recognition, we can’t wait for the draw now and whoever it will be, we’ll be ready for them.”
A frenetic opening finally yielded the deadlock breaker on 22 minutes – and it was FC United who showed first.
A bit of magic down the right saw right-back Aaron Morris dribble his way into the Kettering box to set-up Owolabi to slot home.
But the Poppies should have been level five minutes later when Lindon Meikle’s shot forced Cameron Belford into a save on his near post.
Despite the gap in divisions, it was the home side who began to dominate possession, with some slick passing moves being created in midfield especially.
The half would come to close but not before Kettering’s keeper Paul White produced the save of the game, following a fine free-kick from Charlie Ennis.
Poppies boss Paul Cox responded with a half-time substitution - Tre Mitford coming on to help add weight to his side’s forward line.
And the move soon began to work as Kettering forced United back with both Mitford and Gary Stohrer spurring half chances to draw their side level.
But it would be Connor Kennedy on 75 minutes who would come the closest to an equaliser, when his thunderous effort from distance forced Belford into a save.
FC United, though, made them pay for their missed chances on 79 minutes when a perfectly weighted through ball from Regan Linney found the run of Owolabi, who finished superbly for his 21st goal of the season.
Kettering threatened from set plays all afternoon and finally found a way through four minutes from time when United’s defence struggled to clear their lines from a freekick and captain Graham powered home.
But the Rebels saw off the late onslaught with some heroic defending to win through.