Marna gives Poppies winning start to 2010 with an away victory at Ebbsfleet

January 19, 2010—

Ebbsfleet Utd 1
Ashikodi 50pen

Kettering Town 2
Dance 30
Marna 63

Kettering finally get a game underway in the New Year as they take on Ebbsfleet Utd at Stonebridge Road with the fleet unveiling their latest signing, ex-Poppy Moses Ashikodi and Lee Harper starting recently signed goalkeeper Nathan Abbey and Alton Thelwell.

A fairly cautious start to the match with both teams getting used to playing football again after several postponed fixtures in the New Year although Ebbsfleet suffered defeat at the hands of Alty on Saturday. The first effort came on 9 minutes when Peter Holmes tried his luck but was wide of the mark without troubling Abbey in the Poppies goal.

Patrick Noubissie replied in imilar fashion for Kettering but he couldn't keep his shot down and it flew high over the crossbar. Long range efforts from Charles and Holmes were comfortably dealt with by Abbey as the chances came few and far between within the first 25 minutes.

A booking for Ian Roper on 26 minutes seemed spark life into Kettering and the hoem side were forced to defend a Marcus Kelly short corner as the Poppies began to press forward with a little more purpose.

GOAL:   The breakthrough came on the half-hour mark when James Dance collected the ball just inside the penalty area and fired past Lance Cronin to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Kettering dominated the next ten minutes and could have increased their lead with efforts from Andre Boucaud and Jean-Paul Marna, but Peter Holmes showed he still had plenty of life with a shot direct from a free-kick the Nathan Abbey did well to save. Holmes then failed to equalise when he had his spot-kick saved by Nathan Abbey following former Poppy Ashikodi's tumble in the area which won the penalty.

As the first period closed out it was the home side who appeared to finish the stronger with efforts from the lively Peter Holmes and ex-Poppy Moses Ashikodi not realyl troubling Abbey but still serving as a reminder of how slender a lead the Poppies took with them into the break.

Half-time:   Ebbsfleet Utd 0 Kettering Town 1

GOAL:   The second-half gets underway with early drama as Moses Asikodi goes down under a challenge in the penalty area and for the second time and the referee immediately points to the spot. Up steps Moses Ashikodi to slot home the penalty past Nathan Abbey and the home side are level again at 1-1. Thelwell conceded the penalty and Nathan Abbey was booked for protesting by the referee.

Kettering having to weather a little pressure following the equaliser as the home side get some spring back into their play and Harper decides to bring on a Poppies substitute and change round his side's options.

GOAL:   A lull in the match suddenly burst into life as an horrendous back-pass from Darius Charles went straight to the lurking Jean-Paul Marna and the Poppies striker gladly accepts the gift and cooly slots past the advancing Lance Cronin to restore Kettering's narrow advantage on 63 minutes. On comes Jordan Hadfield and Danny Thomas as Kettering make a double substitution on 64 minutes. Replacing goalscorer Marna and Patrick Noubissie.

Fleet make a substitution with Scott Ginty replacing Michael West and Moses Ashikodi turns in front of the Kettering area but opts to pass and Shakes fires high over the crossbar. The home side having slightly more of the play which is probably expected given that they are trailing 2-1 with 15 minutes remaining but so far Kettering are managing to deny then the space for a clear-cut chance on goal.

A roar from the home crowd as Scott Ginty fires the ball into the net but the linesman had his flag in the air already and the referee awards a free-kick to Kettering for handball as the Fleet striker controlled the ball with his hand on the way through. Lance Cronin needed to be alert to save from Marcus Kelly.

The match into the final ten minutes as Kettering looking to hold onto their slender advantage and Fleet make another substitution as Welsh comes on to replace Salmon and Daish switches his side into a back three defensive line in an attempt to push more bodies forward.

Into the final five minutes of normal time as Kettering are content to try and see out the remaining minutes including what is added-on and hold onto their narrow 2-1 lead. The home side still trying to work an opening but not having the same bounce in their play since conceding their second in such a disastrous way.

Five minutes of time added on by the fourth official as Kettering making sure there is no lapse in concentration to spoil what looks like being a winning start in their first match of 2010. Wills comes on for Fleet to see out the final minutes replacing Easton who took a slight knock.

The whistle sounds and brings a much-needed winning start for Lee Harper and Kettering Town to the New Year as they begin 2010 with a narrow 2-1 victory at Stonebrdige Road, surviving conceding two penalties in the process. The two goals scored by Kettering are the first goals in four games played and the first time they have scored twice in the last ten fixtures.

Att: 587

Kettering Town: Abbey, Thelwell, Roper, Dempster, Jennings, Kelly, Noubissie, Wrack, Boucaud, Dance, Marna. Subs: Cooper, Hadfield, Thomas, Carrillo.

Ebbsfleet Utd: Cronin, Salmon, Pooley, Crooks, Easton, Stavrinou, Charles, Holmes, West, Ashikodi, Shakes. Subs: Heeroo, Ginty, Wills, Welsh, Bailey.