Poppies at Harrogate Town ends in stalemate
Harrogate Town 0 Kettering Town 0 Kettering Town travel to Wetherby Rd on Saturday to take on title rivals Harrogate Town boosted by back-to-back 5-2 home wins over Southport and Hinckley Utd, while Harrogate recorded their own back-to back wins, 1-0 away to Hucknall Town and 2-0 at home to Stalybridge Celtic. Both sides settle quickly in this vital top of the table clash with flowing football looking to be the order of the day. The home side brings some early pressure urged on by their support but the Poppies defence is coping well up to this point. Ketting counter on the break and Bridges is flagged offside as they almost take the lead and a Dempster header is cleared off the line. Heading towards half-time and Harrogate come close to breaking the deadlock as Hume fires against the crossbar following a corner and Kettering defend resolutely to deny them the lead throwing bodies in front of any home side efforts headed for goal. Half-time: Harrogate Town 0 Kettering Town 0 Second-half underway and the home team again having the better of the early exchanges but Kettering's backline led by recent signing Branston remaining solid leading up to the hour mark of this nip and tuck match. Coming up to the final 15 minutes and to be fair the home side have had the better chances as the Poppies attack has not been as prominent as in recent matches. Holland again breaks through for Harrogate but the Poppies defence, Branston and Harper in particular, are working hard to deny the home side the lead with 5 minutes normal time left to play and another 5 added on while the Harrogate keeper received attention. Full-time and the match ends in honours even and a point a piece. A result which the Poppies traveling support is more likely a lot happier with than the home support. Att: 935 Kettering: Harper, Graham, Jaszczun, Dempster, Branston, Solkhon, Brady, Mills, Hall, Beardsley, Marna. Subs: Eaden, Bridges, Kemp, Westcarr, Bussey. Harrogate: McLaughlin, Price, Peat, Ingram, Hume, Dunning, Wood, Burton, Merris, Hackworth, Holland. Subs: Bettney, Ellerker, Whittington, Hunter, Caine February 15, 2008
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