Superb Seddon strike saves embarrassment for Poppies at struggling but spirited Weymouth

March 21, 2009—

Weymouth 0

Kettering Town 2
Seddon 53
Lorougnon 81

Kettering Town travel South to take on struggling Weymouth this Saturday with their play-off credibility on the line, following a disastrous first 45 minutes at Rockingham Raod just 48 hours earlier. Kettering will be without the suspended Guy Branston and Craig Westcarr, but new signing Ben Wright goes straight into the starting lineup.

A lively start at the Wessex Stadium with Kettering straight on the attack and new signing Ben Wright almost opened the scoring but for a last ditch tackle and the loose ball ran to Brett Solkhon who fired high over the crossbar. The home side by no means intimidated though and are looking dangerous on the break in the early stages.

Two minutes later and Kettering have the ball in the net direct from a corner but the referee blows up for a free-kick to Weymouth, much to the dismay of the Poppies traveling support. Alfie Potter surges forward but Richard Graham's effort is blocked by a busy Terra's defence.

Hoyt comes close with a header from a free-kick but Harper watches the ball go wide of the upright. Gareth Seddon runs down the line and his cross is put out for another corner to Kettering. Another inswinging corner from Luke Potter and Evans claws it out for another corner. In comes the ball and John Dempster fires wide of the mark with a lot more time than he perhaps realised.

Plenty of possession and shots from Kettering but still nothing definitive in that vital area in front of goal and so far the Terra's defence is having the upper-hand with three across the back allowing greater numbers to break forward and pressure the Poppies backline. Already midway through the first period and the game somewhat off the boil from the early lively start.

A corner comes in from Luke Potter but the ball is cleared again by the Terras' surprisingly, so far dominant defence. Another corner and Darren Wrack eventually finds the ball at his feet but fires frustratingly well wide of the goal. A Hyde shot blocked by the Poppies defence and the ball is cleared up field.

At the half-hour mark and Kettering's lack of finishing is giving confidence to the Terra's as they break forward again and Palmer comes close with a header that goes just over the crossbar as a warning to Mark Cooper's men. An unchallenged header from Luke Potter is met by Brett Solkhon but again the header goes frustratingly wide of the mark.

A late lunge by Gareth Seddon earns the first yellow card. Another corner for Kettering is wasted and now into double figures they really should be making more from the dead-ball situations. Crook has a shot blocked and Luke Potter clears the danger, but a through ball is swept up calmly by a dominating Critchell in the home defence. Darren Wrack surges forward but overran it and Critchell puts it out for yet another corner and as the ball comes in, Critchell clears yet again.

A foul by Ben Wright and the referee produces the second yellow card of the match as half-time approaches without either goalkeeper having to produce a difficult save. A very disappointing first 45 minutes from Kettering once again underlining their problems scoring goals. Mark Cooper will somehow have to change their approach in the second-half to avoid what will certainly be a huge embarrassment.

Half-time:   Weymouth 0 Kettering Town 0

The second-half underway and no changes at this stage from Mark Cooper, who although as a manager is serving a touchline ban, is also one of the substitutes for today's match. Kettering fast off the blocks to try and break the home side's spirit but as the match goes on with no goals, the more confident the Terra's become.

GOAL:   A throw-in finds Gareth Seddon outside the area and the Poppies striker turns and superbly strikes the ball which scorches into the net and kettering finally breakdown the stubborn home resistance, but it took an excellent effort to beat their previously impenetrable defence. Will this be the start for a Kettering onslaught or can the Terra's make a determined comeback.

Weymouth make their first substitution shortly before the hour mark as Folawiyo Onibuje comes into the action to replace David Ryan. Palmer races to a through ball but Harper is alert to cut out the danger as the Poppies defene gets a timely warning it's not over yet. A deflection off the referee almost lets in Gill but his effort is blocked by Bennett, the Terra's best chance of the match lets Mark Cooper know they can't sit back in this one.

Cooper makes a change as Ange Lorougnon comes on to replace Richard Graham for the final twenty minutes. Another disappointing corner from Kettering allows Weymouth to clear easily and break forward once again. Chris Beardsley replaces Gareth Seddon with 15 minutes left on the clock.

On 78 minutes Jermaine Palmer goes into the referee's notebook for a foul. Weymouth surge forward again through the long legs of Onibuje and Kettering manage to scramble it out for a throw. In comes the throw and Onibuje almost equalises but his header just flashes over the crossbar. Another escape for Poppies who at times are holding on desperately.

GOAL:   All that changes with minutes left as Poppies substitute Ange Lorougnon hits a ball that takes a slight deflection before nestling in the back of the net and much to the relief of the traveling support Kettering are 2-0 up.

Into the last five minutes and Kettering seemed to have finally broken the home side's spirit as they start to settle more on the ball and find more inroads into the Terra's defence with Lorougnon almost scoring his second but Evans makes an excellent diving save for Weymouth. Jake Hyde goes off and Tom Richardson comes on.

Four minutes of stoppage time for Kettering to see out and claim 3pts in what could have been an hugely embarrassing result, but finally turned on a superb strike from Seddon and then a first goal for substitute Lorougnon late on finally broke what had been an excellent fighting performance from a much-maligned Weymouth defence.

At the final whistle the bottom-line is it's 3pts for Kettering and plenty of work for Mark Cooper still to do if his side are to mount a realistic challenge for the play-offs. York City are next up on Tuesday night at the A-Line.

Att: 913

Kettering Town: Harper, Bennett, Dempster, Geohaghon, L.Potter, A.Potter, Solkhon, Wrack, R.Graham, Seddon, Wright. Subs: Lorougnon(Graham 67), Beardsley(Seddon 73), Marna, Cooper, Whatsize.

Weymouth: Evans, Ryan, Mawer, Hoyte, Critchell, Coutts, Gill, Cutler, Crook, Hyde, Palmer. Subs: Dixon, Richardson(Hyde 83), Frampton, Vincent, Onibuje(Ryan 53).