Wright gives Poppies season a winning finish at Kidderminster Harriers

April 24, 2009—

Kidderminster Harriers 0

Kettering Town 1
Wright 90

Kettering Town travel to play-off hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers on Sunday for their final Conference premier fixture of the 2008-09 season. Win, draw or lose, Kettering will still finish in 8th spot, but their hosts play-off hopes rely on results elsewhere going for them as well as at least a draw to extend their season.

Despite their hosts need for a good result to make the play-offs, Kettering hadn't come to make it easy for them and in the opening 20 minutes it was a game of nip and tuck as both sides tried to take control of the game.

Not too much in the way of goal-mouth action and neither keeper really troubled. Guy Branston and Ryan Charles were both booked for fouls by the referee as the play got a little scrappy midway through the first period. The home side tried to force the play heading tinto the break but despite a couple of half-chances it ended stalemate at the break.

Half-time:   Kidderminster Harriers 0   Kettering Town 0

The second-half gets underway and in the opening minutes it picks up where the first 45 left off and is littered with fouls and stoppages. Martin Riley goes into the referee's notebook during one of the free-kick stoppages. Kettering make their first change early into the second-half as Jean-Paul Marna is replaced by Alfie Potter. Chris Beardsley joins the growing number of names in the referee's notebook on the hour mark.

Kidderminster make changes as Russel Penn and come on for David McDermott and Martin Brittain replaces Matthew Barnes-Homer. The pace suddenly picks up and substitute Penn almost breaks the deadlock but his shot just wide of the mark. At the other end Alfie Potter comes close to making a quick impression as his effort is saved by the diving Bartlett. Kettering surprisingly having a lot more of the play than they did in the first half.

Into the final 20 minutes and the referee is a bit over zealous as he waves his ywlloe card again, this time it's substitute Alfie Potter who is the unfortunate recipient. Kidderminster break and Barnes-Homer forces Harper to react to get down and then the Poppies keeper is back on feet to deny Justin Richards with another excellent save.

A good spell for Kidderminster as the match enters the final fifteen minutes and time is running out fast on their play-off hopes. Ben Wright comes on to replace Ryan Charles for Kettering. Justin Richards volleys another chance high over the bar as the home side pour forward en masse.

The home side desperately pouring forward and Kettering defending like demons and looking to break fast on the counter with ten minutes left and Richard Graham comes on in place of Craig Westcarr.

Into the dying minutes of the match and the final frantic scramble takes place mainly in the Poppies goal area as Kidderminster lay siege to Harper's goal.

GOAL:   Just when it seemed a goal was inevitable it duly appeared, but not where expected as Kettering broke fast and substitute Ben Wright latched onto a cross from Alfie Potter and headed past Barlett to put Kettering 1-0 on 89+ minutes and it looks all over for Kidderminster's play-off hopes.

The late goal from Kettering clearly has taken all the wind from the home side and despite a couple fo minutes of stoppage time left the match is all but over now. The referee blows the whistle and Kidderminster will remain in the Conference Premier next season. Kettering finish the season strong with three wins-in-a-row and will undoubtably look back on what night have been.

An 8th-placed finish is a remarkable achievement for Mark Cooper and his players and a good platform to build on for next season. It's been another rollercoaster ride for the Kettering faithful but in the good sense and I think most will agree that the team is heading in the right direction after their first season back in the top flight of non-league football.

Att: 2,896

Kettering Town: Harper, Eaden, Branston, Geohaghon, L.Potter, Westcarr, Boucaud, Chris Beardsley, Chris Beardsley, Marna, Seddon, Charles. Subs: Whatsize, Graham, A.Potter, Cooper, Wright

Kidderminster Harriers: Bartlett, Lowe, Creighton, Riley, Baker, McPhee, Bennett, McDermott, Knights, Barnes-Homer, Richards. Subs: Ferrell, Moore, Penn, Smikle, Brittain