Spalding United 1-1 Kettering Town
IN BRIEF:
The two teams will replay this coming Tuesday at Latimer Park (7.45pm) after a 1-1 draw today at Spalding. Kettering took the lead after 74 minutes through substitute Claudio Ofosu (above). The equaliser from the Tulips’ captain, Nathan Stainfield came in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the game. The Poppies had to play the last 13 minutes of normal time and 10 minutes of added time with 10 men, after Connor Johnson was sent off, for the second successive time in the F A Cup, for two yellow card offences. Overall, this game was not a classic and credit to Spalding for a spirited performance to earn the replay.
THE KETTERING SQUAD:
With Jackson Smith now injured, fit again Rhys Davies was in goal. Ricardo Calder was unavailable and a late new signing from Kings Lynn, Alex Brown, came in with Rhys Sharpe still injured. Tom Unwin started in defence, as Max Dyche was not allowed to play by parent club, Northampton. Isaac Stones and Chris Smith were back on the 7 man substitutes bench along with Jack Empson.
The teams lined up:
SPALDING UNITED
1 Michael Duggan
2 Bailey Baker
3 James Hugo
4 Oliver Price (15 Shane Clarke,83)
5 Nathan Stainfield (Captain)
12 Chris Ward
7 Glen Vala
8 Dan Bucciero
9 Chris Assombalonga
10 Stefan Broccoli (17 Harry Robinson 90+9)
11 Ryan Flitton (14 Scott Floyd,78)
Unused substitutes:
13 James Goff
Yellow Cards: Baker,72;Broccoli,81; Floyd 90+5.
KETTERING TOWN:
1 Rhys Davies
2 Connor Barrett
3 Alex Brown
4 Luke Ward
5 Connor Johnson
6 Tom Unwin
7 Callum Powell
8 Connor Kennedy (Captain) (14 Chris Smith,81)
9 Decarrey Sheriff (12 Isaac Stones,70)
10 Lamine Sherif (16 Claudio Ofosu,59)
11 Harrison Neal
Unused Substitutes:
15 Jordan Crawford
17 Lauric Diakiesse
18 Jack Empson
24 Kyle Perry
Yellow cards: Brown,68; Barrett,90+5
Red Card: Johnson,77 (two yellow cards, 23 and 77).
THE GAME:
A healthy crowd welcomed the two teams out on an, initially, warm afternoon. The first shot on goal saw Callum Powell fire well over the bar after he had won a free kick 20 yards out and on 5 minutes Tom Unwin lofted a ball in after a corner but home keeper Michael Duggan collected.
The next minute saw Decarrey Sheriff pounce on a loose ball after the home defence faltered and, with a great chance, saw the ball deflected just wide of the right post for an eventual fruitless corner. Spalding’s Captain Nathan Stainfield then won a header at a free kick but the Kettering defence cleared any danger.
The Poppies threatened on 12 minutes as Connor Barrett broke down the right. His cross was well directed to the near post but all Sheriff could do was to get something on the ball and it flew well wide. Alex Brown’s first meaningful contribution, on his debut, saw his free kick from the right flash low across the six-yard area and just too far for Connor Kennedy to direct at goal.
Duggan saved a Connor Jonson header from a Kennedy long throw, and also held a tricky shot from Harrison Neal, which bobbled up off the pitch in front of him. At the other end, now on 33 minutes, a Spalding long throw into the box was beaten away by Kettering keeper, Rhys Davies.
Kettering broke quickly on 35 minutes as Sheriff sent Powell away down the left but the left foot shot from a narrow angle was over the bar. Powell then set up Tom Unwin after a set piece but the big defender’s shot was easy for Duggan.
The Poppies continued to press and Kennedy’s deep cross from the right saw Johnson head over from a good position. Spalding then broke from the restart but former Kettering triallist, Stefan Broccoli, could not take advantage.
Right-on half-time Kettering almost scored. Decarrey Sheriff came in from the right and hit a great left foot strike which beat Duggan but was just wide of the target.
Half Time:
SPALDING UNITED 0 - 0 KETTERING TOWN
The second half began where the first had finished and a 46th minute cross from the right from Sheriff spelt danger but there were no takers for Kettering in front of goal.
Kennedy’s long throw on 53 minutes saw the bounce of the ball beat Powell and the chance was lost. Then a Kettering corner was recycled and Harrison Neal’s cross back in was too hard and went for a goal kick.
Home captain Stainfield was having a good game for the hosts, and his volley after a corner was well blocked by Johnson. Then Stainfield won a header from along throw on to Oliver Price, but the header was just over the bar. Claudio Ofosu then replaced the struggling Lamine Sherif.
Spalding were getting into the game and Price got on the end of a long throw but headed straight at Davies. On 63 minutes Kettering had a chance as Sheriff headed on a Davies clearance to Ofosu- but his header was wide. The game began to get a little messy at this stage as the rain began to fall and this may have contributed to Kettering’s goal on 71 minutes.
Ofosu went on a run down the left and cut inside to shoot. The low right foot shot seemed to be covered by Duggan but may have skimmed across the damp surface and the keeper allowed the ball to squirm away from him into the net. 0-1 after 74 minutes.
The game changed on 77 minutes. Johnson was rightly shown a second yellow card and left the field and with Kettering suddenly and temporarily down to 9 men as Kennedy limped off the momentum was suddenly with Spalding. Chris Smith replaced Kennedy as Kettering switched to a four-man defence with Tom Unwin moving into midfield.
Davies did well to punch and then catch the ball from a Glen Yala cross as Kettering tried to get a grip of their new situation. In fact despite a few hasty clearances, they were coping- enough to give Barrett the chance of a cross shot which Duggan did well to get something on.
As the minutes ticked on there was no indication of what time was actually being added on. In the 3rd minute of added time Davies saved a header from Chris Assombalonga.
In the 6th minute of added time Spalding equalised. Barrett conceded a corner and was cautioned for kicking the ball away only to be accosted by home substitute Scott Floyd who raised his arms and was also cautioned. Floyd’s corner from the left was well placed and Stainfield rose to head firmly home giving Davies no chance. 1-1, 96 minutes
The teams played out a further four minutes and will do it all again on Tuesday.
Full Time:
SPALDING UNITED 1 - 1 KETTERING TOWN
Attendance: 562 (away fans estimated at 200)
Referee: Greg Rollason; Assistants: Aimee Kier; Matt Jackson
Poppies Media Man of the Match: Harrison Neal
Next HOME game :
Tuesday 20th September: Spalding United F A Cup Replay at 7.45pm
Other upcoming games:
Saturday September 25th HOME to Spennymoor Town
Saturday October 2nd : TBA
Saturday October 9th: HOME to Chester City at 3pm
Saturday October 16th away at Chorley