Partridge strike gives Poppies deserved win at Luton Town

December 2, 2009—

Luton Town 0

Kettering Town 1
Partridge 64

Kettering Town travel to Kenilworth Rd to take on Luton Town as they get back to the bread and butter of Blue Square Premier League football following their heroic antics against Leeds Utd in the FA Cup at the weekend.

A bright start for Kettering with Harper having added several of the Poppies' recent signings to his starting lineup, including Partridge, Davis, and Kelly with Thelwell and Dance on the bench. Marna and Elding already look a lively pairing in the Poppies attack.

Richie Partridge is very busy in midflied and providing good build ups for first Elding and then Marna as Pilkington is tested early on in the Hatters' goal. At the other end Tom Craddock fired over the crossbar and Roper is already busy at the heart of the Poppies defence.

Midway through the first-half and still no score despite several half-chances at both ends. Alan White fired over the bar and Kevin Gallen had an effort saved by Lee Harper as the home side begin to put increasing pressure on the Poppies defence. Kettering unable to produce a final ball at the moment with the home side having more of the possession in the middle of the park.

Ten minutes to the break and a Partridge inswinging corner is met by John Dempster but the Poppies defender's header goes wide of the post as Kettering begin to come back into contention again. At the other end Greg Taylor blocks an effort by Tom Craddock.

Kettering appear to be finishing the half stronger as a shot by Anthony Elding is blocked by Alan White and Pilkington is forced to deny Simon Heslop what would have been the opening goal. A booking for Claude Gnakpa following a foul on Kettering's Marcus Kelly and a Harper save from Craddock rounds out a very even but goaless first 45 minute period at Kenilworth Rd.

Half-time:   Luton Town 0 Kettering Town 0

No substitutions at the start of the second period as both teams settle back into the action. An early booking in the second-half as Sol Davis goes into the referee's notebook for a foul on Claude Gnakpa. Neither side able to produce the necessary quality to break the deadlock in front of goal so far.

Marna is flattened by Keith Keane and the Hatter player joins the others in the referee's notebook. Luton keeper Kevin Pilkingtonblocks a throw-in being taken and he's also shown the yellow card by the referee.

GOAL:   A good passing build-up by Kettering and the final ball is at the feet of Richie Partridge who looks up and curls a superb ball past Kevin Pilkington and into the net to give the Poppies a 1-0 lead with 64 minutes gone. A Kevin Gallen ball into the feet of Adam Newton didn't produce the same quality of finish and the ball flew wide of the upright.

Jean-Paul Marna is replaced by James Dance on 68 minutes and shortly afterwards Blackett makes way for Matthew Barnes-Homer for Luton. A free-kick driven at goal by Simon Heslop is deflected for a corner and the resulting ball whipped into the box is headed clear by Nicolls with just under 20 minutes remaining. A mistake by Harper almost gifts the home side an equaliser as he knocks the ball onto the post when it looked to be going wide but it's scrambled clear by the Poppies defence.

A cracking shot by Simon Heslop is pushed over the crossbar by the stretching Kevin Pilkington and the resulting corner is easily cleared at the edge of the area going into the final ten minutes of normal time and Kettering still holding onto their slender 1-0 lead. Lewis Emanuel on for Kevin Gallen and Darren Wrack comes on to replace Richie Partridge who has arguably been the man-of-match for Kettering this afternoon with his excellent work-rate and topped by a superb goal.

Kettering just trying to see out the remaining few minutes now as the full-time whistle is approaching fast as we go into four minutes time added on. The Poppies defence well-marshaled by Ian Roper has looked pretty solid all evening and behind them Lee Harper has picked up anything that has managed to find a way through.

The final whistle sounds to signal an excellent away victory by Kettering and coming after two league defeats the three points is certainly most welcome. A good result for Lee Harper gaining his first league win as Kettering manager.

Att: 6,608

Kettering Town: Harper, Taylor, Dempster, Roper, Davis, Kelly, Boucaud, Heslop, Partridge, Elding, Marna. Subs: N.Cooper, Thelwell, Wrack, Dance, Thomas.

Luton Town: Pilkington, White, Blackett, Murray, Pilkington, Gnakpa, Nicholls, Keane, Newton, Craddock, Gallen. Subs: Gore, Emanuel, Jarvis, Cain, Barnes-Homer.