Goal-shy Poppies lose at home to Hayes & Yeading Utd

November 24, 2009—

Kettering Town 0

Hayes & Yeading Utd 1
Watkins 85

Kettering Town host in-form Hayes & Yeading Utd at the Elgood's Brewery Arena with manager Lee Harper looking for a boost before his side face Leeds Utd in the FA Cup 2nd Round on Saturday.

A quiet start to the match with Poppies boss Lee Harper having shuffled his side around and looking for some better finishing than they produced in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Kidderminster. Marna partners Elding up front and Lee Fowler is back in the midfield for Kettering. Danny Thomas surges forward but his effort is well wide of the target with 15 minutes gone.

At the other end Marc Canham fires a shot over the crossbar after a fast break by the visitors. Free-kick for Kettering played in by Elding but no one there to connect for the home side and it goes out for a goal kick. Danny Thomas bursts down the line and crosses for Marna but the Poppies striker couldn't get a clean connection and the shot goes wide of the upright.

A good build up and as the cross came in Anthony Elding leapt to connect but it just sailed over his head and the visitors clear the danger. Kettering still unable to get a clear cut chance with ten minutes to the half-time break as the visitors are defending well. A booking for Danny Allen-Paige but the resulting free-kick is wasted by Kettering and Overland in the Hayes goal hasn't really been troubled so far.

The referee gets out his yellow card and Greg Taylor receives a caution with five minutes to the break. Arguably one of the quietest first 45 minutes Kettering have been involved in so far this season as the half-time whistle sounds still deadlocked at 0-0.

Half-time:   Kettering Town 0 Hayes & Yeading Utd 0

Second-half gets underway and an early long range ball upfield by James Dance finds Anthony Elding but again the Poppies striker doesn't connect cleanly and the shot goes wide of the upright. Better build up by Kettering but still found wanting in the final third when it matters most.

Hayes attack and Esmond James crosses the ball that dips down and bounces off the top of the crossbar with Harper looking on, probably the closest the visitors have come in the match so far approaching the hour mark.

Toby Little leaves the field to be replaced by Dale Binns for Hates first substitution. Harper down quickly to deny a snapshot from James Mulley which is arguably the first real save the Poppies manager/goalkeeper has had to make in this match up to this point.

Jean-Paul Marna latches onto a through ball and lashes in an effort but Overland down to deny Kettering the lead. The visitors break in return and Harper forced to concede a corner which Lee Fowler heads clear. Moses Ashikodi comes on for Danny Thomas with just less than 20 minutes left.

Marwa comes on to replace Canham for Hayes. Jean-Paul Marna strikes the ball well but from long-range the goalkeeper wasn't troubled and collects easily. Esmond James comes on to replace Craig Watkins as the visitors don't seem in too much of a hurry and are probably content with a point at this stage of the match.

GOAL:   Disaster for Kettering as a fast break forward and cross into the area found substitute Craig Watkins unmarked and he fires past Lee Harper to give Hayes a late lead and one that could earn all the points for the visitors with just five minutes remaining.

Lee Fowler leaves the field to be replaced by Damian Spencer as we head into stoppage time. Two quick bookings as first Dale Binns and then Lee Harper are shown yellow cards by the referee. Not the best of starts for new manager Lee Harper as Kettering suffer their second home defeat in two matches, surprisingly not being able to score a goal and yet conceding three.

Att: 997

Kettering Town: Harper, Dance, Dempster, Roper, Taylor, Boucaud, Marna, Noubissie, Fowler, Thomas, Elding. Subs: Bussey, Wrack, Spencer, Ashikodi.

Hayes & Yeading Utd: Overland, Allen-Page, Cadmore, Ruby, Green, James, Canham, Cochrane, Little, Mulley, Canham. Subs: Baker, Marwa, Fitzgerald, Binns, Watkins.