PERFECT POPPIES HALTED
Brothers scores late for Leiston
KETTERING’S 100 per cent run came to a shuddering halt at the hands of a dogged Leiston side, who matched their hosts pound for pound.
The winning goal was struck home by a player who arguably should have not been on the pitch, but the visitors’ overall effort and game plan could not be faulted.
The Poppies started the game brightly with Ben Milnes forcing two saves from Marcus Garnham, the second an acrobatic leap.
But after weathering the initial storm Leiston took the lead as Dominic Docherty leapt highest to meet an inswinging corner on 15 minutes.
The ball appeared to have been cleared off the line by Gary Stohrer but the assistant official was quick to signal the ball had crossed.
A turgid middle period sparked to life when Rhys Hoenes was upended, not for the first time this season, inside the penalty area after a mazy run. Patrick Brothers was perhaps lucky to not see red in the intervening brawl after raising his arms and lashing out at Hoenes. Despite the chaos, Brett Solkhon calmly stepped up and slid the penalty home.
The second 45 was a battle of attrition with neither side finding the creative spark to take the lead. Solkhon was allowed to volley from distance on 59 minutes whilst Leiston were reduced to the occasional cross from the byline which were easily claimed by Paul White.
But Marcus Law’s men found an extra gear with 12 minutes to go as Michael Richens’ fierce shot from distance had to be punched clear by Garnham on 79 minutes whilst Ben Toseland hit the post four minutes later with a header from an angle. Mason Rhiney curled a shot just inside the area shortly after to force yet another save from the Leiston shot-stopper.
From the resulting kick up the pitch Leiston hit the
Poppies hard. Jack Reed steamed forward with the ball towards the byline and lofted a cross leaving White stranded in no-mans land. Brothers received the ball and composed himself to fire home from eight yards in to a seemingly empty net.
Richens was given a golden opportunity to grab a point but could only nod Milnes’ cross over the bar.
“The second half was all us, but unfortunately the squad is very thin. We just didn’t have better options from the bench available to us,” said manager Marcus Law.
In reference to Brothers remaining on the pitch after the incident on 31 minutes “Regardless of whether it was a penalty of not, the number 11 (Brothers) has reacted and the officials clearly saw it – I don’t understand how he stays on the pitch.”