POPPIES’ TITLE BID BACK ON
Law’s men grab a vital victory
MARCUS Law’s Kettering got their title challenge back on track with a workman like performance against Royston as they battled hard to take all three points.
But it took a moment of brilliance first from Michael Richens, whose pinpoint pass found Aaron O’Connor to slip the ball home from a tight angle and score the only goal of the game.
At times the visiting defence led by the impressive Daniel Braithwaite looked un-breachable.
However their threat on goal was minimal with Sam Neal spurning the Crows’ best opportunity on 38 minutes.
His driving run on the right side left substitute Gary Stohrer for dust, but as the angle on goal narrowed, he could only shoot in to the side netting when it seemed he would do better.
Earlier O’Connor made a bid for the “miss of the season” award.
Marcus Kelly’s free kick in front of goal on 14 minutes was laid off to Lindon Meikle who shot from distance.
Joe Welch in goal spilt the ball right at the feet of O’Connor just six yards out – O’Connor could only balloon the ball over bar with the visiting keeper on the floor.
On 23 minutes a Richens shot from point blank range was turned off the line after a Ben Milnes cross seemed to bobble around in Royston’s box for an eternity.
The low-key first half continued in to the second.
Royston’s Rohdell Gordon could only blast a free kick 20 yards out from goal high and wide, whilst the Poppies saw a number of deep crosses turned away with ease.
But the hard work of the hosts eventually bore fruit just after the hour mark.
First a string of glorious passes in and around the area ended with a Dan Holman shot again needing to be cleared off the line on
61 minutes, whilst keeper Welch needed his left leg to keep out a fierce Rhys Hoenes shot inside the area on 69 minutes.
The hosts were in total control by the time they took the lead on 72 minutes, they and O’Connor were good value for the goal. The task of holding on to the lead became slightly easier on 75 minutes when Sam Corcoran hacked down Richens to receive a second yellow – Corcoran riding his luck, having committed a similar foul again on Richens after just 36 minutes.
There was still time for Royston to try and steal a point when on 86 minutes, keeper Paul White, who had had very little to do, allowed a deep cross to bounce once too often and the on-rushing Adam Murray very nearly nodded the ball out of White’s hands and towards the goal. STAR MAN: Aaron O’Connor (Kettering) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★