Kettering Town 1 Poole Town 0

Southern Premier League

29 November 2015

In a very hostile crowd atmosphere and in difficult pitch and weather conditions the two teams battled to produce an interesting and competititve game which Poole lost by the only goal. There were few chances in the game with Burbidge and Dickson both having quiet games on the boggy wings in contrast to Kettering's recent signing Wilson Carvalho whose name rang out from Kettering's support after the match. Kettering look like a team which is going places now, whether this season or next remains to be seen. 

Early on in the match Devlin was put through with only the keeper to beat but the Kettering keeper managed to smother the shot. After that Poole were pretty much pinned in their own half during the first period but defended well until Kettering won a penalty as Hutchings brought down the forward with the ball spinning loose in the area. In the circumstances the keeper may have been fortunate to receive a yellow rather than a red card. In the arguments another couple of yellows were issued to Poole players. Hutchings superb save to his left from the penalty quietened the crowd for a bit but didn't add anything to his popularity with them. A 0 - 0 score at half time left the match well balanced but the second half was delayed whilst replacement referees assistant was sought and there was a concern that the game might have to be abandoned with more rain lashing down and the referee having a look at the pitch.

The emergence of the players after half time was greeted with ironic cheers and Poole were more dominant trying to get Burbidge on the ball more. Some great defending denied Brooks a clear shot on goal. When the goal came it was from a Poole error with the ball being lost outside the area and Carvalho shooting past Hutchings probably aided by a deflection. Poole lost their composure after that and in the conditions couldn't produce very much. In the end Kettering should have won by more as their forwards sqaundered at least 2 good chances but it was Roberts who had a fantastic chance to equalise when substitute Holmes broke clear on the right and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot but he couldn't turn the ball in.

My star player for Poole today was Will Spetch. Looking like a natural centre back he was dominant in difficult conditions and looked to distribute the ball to make progress.