Charles gives Poppies overdue win at home to Wrexham

April 17, 2009—

Kettering Town 1
Charles 3

Wrexham 0

Kettering Town host Wrexham in their final home fixture of the 2008-09 season with a top ten finish already assured following their 1-1 draw at home to Crawley on Wednesday.

GOAL:   Kettering and Wrexham get right down to it at the A-Line and a Silvio Spann shot is blocked by Branston, Poppies clear and straight on the attack. Craig Westcarr picks up the ball and finds Ryan Charles at the far post who slots home from close-in to score his first goal for Kettering and put them 1-0 up on 3 minutes.

The home side in the ascendancy in the first 10 minutes with the ball spending a lot of time in the visitor's area but not yet creating a clear-cut chance as Kettering looking to increase their early lead. Charles seems to be especially galvanised up front this afternoon and is looking hungry for a second strike.

Wrexham beginning to come more into the match as Silvio Spann brings a save out of the previously under-worked Lee Harper on 21 minutes. Kettering hit back as first Chris Beardsley forces Maxwell to react quickly to deny a second and then a 30yd volley from John Dempster is on target but Chris Maxwell was alert and made the save.

Kettering coming under a spell of pressure from the vistors as we reach the half-hour mark, Jefferson Lewis is denied by a block and then a Jamie McCluskey effort goes narrowly wide of the upright. Luke Potter is booked for a foul as Kettering are having to defend to maintain their slender advantage.

Inside five minutes to the break as Geohaghon clears from the lively Silvio Spann. Beradsley has an effort saved and then play switches back and forth as Jefferson is denied by an Eaden block. Another shot by the busy John Dempster is saved by Maxwell as Kettering finish the half strong.

Half-time: Kettering Town 1 Wrexham 0

A change at the start of the second-half as Jonathan Brown replaces Silvio Spann, who was one of Wrexham's liveliest players in the first 45 minutes. Harper is alert to deny Jamie McCluskey's effort on goal as we pickup the pace where we left it. Neither side anything to play for but pride really but they both seem to be interested enough so far this afternoon.

A rare foray forward results in a header that goes just wide from Poppies captain Guy Branston and then he gets back quickly to clear the danger at the other end as we approach the hour mark. Ben Wright replaces goalscorer Ryan Charles for Kettering.

Wrexham enjoying a good spell and threatening the Poppies goal as shots come in from Tom Kearney and Andrew Crofts but with 15 minutes remaining the Poppies still holding onto their slender 1-0 lead. The two teams exchange shots again but no further goals as the match enters the final stage.

Into the last ten minutes and John Curtis is given a yellow card. Wrexham pressing for an equaliser in the remaining minutes but it looks like the Poppies defence is going to hold on to earn a their first win in seven matches.

A rare break forward by Kettering as Jean-paul Marna fires wide and as Wrexham press again Andre Boucaud is booked for a foul. The referee blows for the end of the match and it's a long overdue victory for Kettering in their final home fixture of the season.

Att: 1,497

Kettering Town: Harper, Eaden, Geohaghon, Branston, Luke Potter, Westcarr, Boucaud, Dempster, Marna, Beardsley, Charles. Subs: Graham, Wright, Whatsize, Bennett.

Wrexham: Maxwell, Curtis, Westwood, Collin, Taylor, Crofts, Spann, Fairhurst, Flynn, Louis, McCluskey. Subs: Proctor, Kearney, Anoruo, Williamson, Brown.