Late goal sees battling Poppies lose 4-3 to Oldham - FA Cup 1st Round
Oldham Athletic 4 Poppies boss Morell Maison went for experience between the posts as Paul Musselwhite was drafted straight into the Kettering starting lineup, with the usual front pairing of Zema Abbey and Craig Westcarr, while Darren Caskey started on the bench. An early substitution for the visitors as an injury to Simon Charlton meant a quick change for boss John Sheridan as Marc Tierney replaced the Latics defender after only 7 minutes. Neither side able to make the breakthrough in a tight encounter and as half-time approached Andre Boucaud was the first name into the referee's notebook on 40 minutes. Kettering's recently drafted-in goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite pulled off some excellent saves to keep the visitors at bay, but they finally made the breakthrough just before half-time. With one eye already on the tunnel, Kettering fell behind to a goal from Latics recent loan signing Sean Gregan on 43 minutes and went into the half-time break trailing 1-0. Another substitution for the visitors in early in the second-half as William Haining was replaced by Neal Trotman on 48 minutes. Just 4 minutes later and Kettering were back on level terms as Craig McIlwain scored to make it 1-1 on 52 minutes. The home fans celebrations had only just subsided when ex-Poppies striker Paul Warne restored the Latics lead on 56 minutes to make it 2-1 to Oldham in a pulsating FA Cup tie. The drama flowed quickly as on the hour-mark Craig McIlwain followed Boucaud into the referee's notebook and then Oldham increased their lead to 3-1 as substitute Neal Trotman scored. No let up in the action and Kettering weren't finished yet as Zema Abbey pulled a goal back for the Poppies to make it 3-2 on 62 minutes and give the home fans renewed hope to go along with their goal celebrations. Poppies boss Morell Maison brought on Darren Caskey for Serge Makofo as Kettering made their first susbtitution of the match on 69 minutes, still trailing by a single goal to the League One outfit. Andre Boucaud was substituted on 74 minutes as Kettering went all-out for an equaliser by bringing on striker Rene Howe. Oldham swapped out Christopher Hall for Chris Porter on 81 minutes. Kettering fans leapt in the air to celebrate once again on 84 minutes as Brett Solkhon leveled the match for the Poppies at 3-3 in this very exciting and dramatic cup tie at Rockingham Road with just 6 minutes left. With the final whistle fast approaching and the match already in stoppage time, it was heartache for the Poppies as substitute Christopher Hall scored to put Oldham 4-3 up and this time there was no way back. The final whistle sounded and time had run out for the Poppies, but despite the obvious disappointment for the home supporters they can be proud of a superb effort against a League One outfit and the cracking cup-tie was a credit to both teams, with Oldham eventually running out narrow 4-3 winners at Rockingham Road. Att: 3,481 Kettering: Musselwhite, Nicell, Graham, McKie, McIlwain, Solkhon, Boucaud, Hall, Abbey, Westcarr, Makofo. Subs: Okai, Howe, Marna, Caskey, Bussey. Oldham: Pogliacomi, Lomax, Charlton, Haining, Taylor, Gregan, McDonald, Wellens, Liddell, Porter, Warne. Subs: Hall, Wood, Tierney, Trotman, Smith. November 11, 2006
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