BLYTH SPARTANS 1-0 KETTERING TOWN

IN BRIEF:

The points in this relegation battle went rightly to the home team today as a single goal in the 24th minute from Troy Chiabi won the game. Kettering were a long way off their best, with Blyth dominating the first half and seeing out the game comfortably in the second period. In the end analysis the winning margin could have been more and the Poppies only had one effort on target all afternoon.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

The starting eleven was unchanged. Returning to the substitutes bench after illness were Sam Bennett and Rhys Sharpe. They were joined by new loanee Jimmy Knowles with Lewis White, Ben Sault and Harry Reilly not featuring at all. 

THE TEAMS:

BLYTH SPARTANS:

1    Alex Mitchell

2    Rhys Evans

3    Michael Liddle

5    Toby Lees

8    Jordan Hickey (27 Connor Pani,70)

12  Curtis Round (11 Isaac Walker, 89)

15  Will McGowan

17  Nicky Deverdics (Captain)

19  Cedric Main

21  Troy Chiabi (26 Sam Hodgson,75)

22  Finn Cousin-Dawson

Unused substitutes:

16  Matthew Elsdon

18  Matthew Dopson

Yellow Cards: Deverdics,44;Main,45;McGowan,88

KETTERING TOWN:

1    Harrison Foulkes

2    Frankie Maguire

3    Josh Flanagan 

6    Brad Gascoigne 

8    Gary Stohrer (Captain)

10  Keaton Ward (9 Jimmy Knowles,60) 

12  George Cooper

15  Ellis Myles

16  George Forsyth (14 Ethan Hill,60)

17  Decarrey Sheriff 

19  Tyrone Lewthwaite (7 Sam Bennett,73) 

Unused Substitutes:

11  Rhys Sharpe

13  Harry Hogg 

Yellow Card: Forsyth,57.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

It was a dour afternoon in Northumberland with light drizzle falling most of the game. With overnight gales and a large amount of rain falling, the pitch was holding water first thing and, although it had largely drained, the playing surface was still slippery, with the Referee passing it fit on an early arrival.

Blyth came out of the blocks very quickly, forcing a corner in the very first minute- which was held by visiting keeper, Harrison Foulkes. Kettering countered with Tyrone Lewthwaite two consecutive corner, which came to nothing.

The referee seemed quite happy to allow all sorts of challenges in the first 15 minutes. Was he giving the players time to adjust to the conditions, or had he forgotten his whistle? Neither team or the spectators could understand what the issue was at this stage.

Back to the football and Blyth were getting quite well on top and putting Kettering under the cosh. Troy Chiabi was sent clear in just the 10th minute and Foulkes made a good save. The follow up saw Cedric Main’s header blocked by a defender. Then George Cooper got in the way of a goal bound effort from Curtis Round. Home loanee Will McGowan was showing up well and his 16th minute shot was deflected away for a corner.

As Kettering continued to struggle, it seemed a slight change in formation was confusing some of the players, and Blyth were finding all sorts of space all over the field and were playing some good attacking football. The inevitable came on 24 minutes- this time in a more conventional way. Nicky Deverdics sent a high left foot cross from the right into the six-yard box and the diminutive Chiabi rose unchallenged in the six-yard box to head in.

More Blyth pressure followed as a corner was won and was cleared away by Foulkes. The keeper then saved a deflected McGowan shot before Kettering won a free kick in the Blyth half and Keaton Ward’s delivery was headed away.

On 34 minutes, Foulkes spilled a take from a set piece and his defence rallied to block the resultant shot from close in. A minute later, Kettering had their only shot of the game on target. Lewthwaite set Decarrey Sheriff clear on the right and his low right foot shot was pushed away by home custodian, Alex Mitchell. From the resulting play, Lewthwaite got away on the left and his low cross was smothered by Mitchell.

Blyth were soon at the other end with Chiabi’s shot deflecting off Brad Gascoigne to Foulkes and then Round got past Ellis Myles, who slipped on the surface, and the cross was deflected for yet another corner. This one was untidily scrambled away at the back post.

The Poppies did finish the half with two corners and from the second Cooper’s overhead kick fell nicely for Mitchell.

Half Time:  

BLYTH SPARTANS      1         -         0          KETTERING TOWN

Neither side made changes at half time.

Blyth immediately won what was to be a fruitless corner. Kettering were a little more in the game for the opening 10 minutes of the half without threatening Mitchell’s goal. However, on 55 minutes, mistakes by two Kettering players saw Deverdics with a clear shooting chance which he put over the bar.

Kettering had to do something and on the hour Ethan Hill and Jimmy Knowles replaced Ward and Forsyth (who had just been cautioned).

Blyth just kept coming forward with some neat approach play and Round won another corner and Chiabi saw a cross and rebound both cleared by Cooper and Myles. 

The home side had a real grip on the game with the visitors seemingly unable to counter. Cedric Main’s turn and shot was brilliantly saved by Foulkes on 67 minutes and the next minute saw Deverdics look to go clear of the defence and his shot was blocked by Foulkes. George Cooper was getting in some saving blocks and substitute, Ethan Hill, got into the act with a great tackle on Deverdics as he looked to go clear.

Gascoigne got across to block a Main 71st minute shot and there was some brief respite for Kettering as Sheriff was fouled – but Frankie Maguire’s free kick was cleared away.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, both McGowan and Main had chances – both spurned - and Kettering’s Cooper got in vital interceptions from crosses from either side.

Kettering threw Brad Gascoigne into the attack in an attempt to get something out of the game and only being a goal down it was a reasonable gamble. Josh Flanagan, who had been penned into his own half most of the game, did get forward on 86 minutes and his dangerous looking cross was headed over his own bar by a defender.

Blyth were being pinned back but with Kettering pushing forward they were able to find space towards the final minute, with Foulkes cutting out a cross and then home substitute, Sam Hodgson put a shot into the side netting.

Kettering’s final flurry in added time saw some panic in the home six-yard box with Maguire’s cross going begging and Sheriff losing his footing in trying to force home the loose ball.  

Full Time:

BLYTH SPARTANS        1         -       0            KETTERING TOWN

Match Officials: Referee: John Mulligan; Assistants: Emily Carney and Jamie Walters

Attendance: 585 (Kettering fans estimated in total at 35)

Poppies Media Elgoods Brewery Man of the Match: Harrison Foulkes

Match Report by Sadman KTFC.

Forthcoming matches:

FEBRUARY:

Tuesday 21st: HOME to Farsley Celtic at 7.45pm

Saturday 25th: HOME to Brackley Town at 3pm

Tuesday 28th: HOME to Curzon Ashton at 7.45pm

MARCH:

Saturday 4th: Away at Hereford at 3pm

Tuesday 7th Away at Gloucester City at 7.45pm

Saturday 11th HOME to Chorley at 3pm

Saturday 18th: Away at Southport at 3pm

Saturday 25th HOME to Darlington at 3pm