The Poppies faced one of their hardest away fixtures of the season today at Broadhall Way, the home of league leaders, Stevenage Borough. It was the home team that took all three points in a 2-0 win, courtesy of a brace from midfielder Stacy Long after 63 minutes and with virtually the last kick of the game in added time.


Teams:

Stevenage Borough (4-3-3):

16 Chris Day
5 John Ashton (13 Joel Byrom 20)
8 Stacy Long
10 Lee Boylan (Peter Vincenti 75)
11 Yemi Odubade (17 Tim Sills 61)
14 Mark Roberts (Captain)
18 David Bridges
20 Chris Beardsley
21 Mitchell Cole
24 Michael Bostwick
25 Ronnie Henry

Unused Substitutes:
1 Ashley Bayes
6 Mark Albrighton

Yellow Cards: Henry,45.

Kettering Town:
31 Nathan Abbey
2 Alton Thelwell
3 James Jennings (12 Greg Taylor 82)
4 Darren Wrack (11 Kwesi Appiah 64)
5 Ian Roper (Captain)
6 John Dempster
10 Jean-Paul Marna
14 James Dance
15 Patrick Noubissie
17 Andre Boucaud (8 Jordan Hadfield 20)
22 Marcus Kelly

Unused Substitutes:
13 Niall Cooper
20 Danny Thomas

Yellow cards: Jennings,45; Hadfield 49.


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Lee Harper fielded an unchanged line up and loanee Kwesi Appiah and illness victim Greg Taylor were on the substitutes bench.

Stevenage brought back some of their first choice players after their trophy game in midweek and the team and substitutes bench looked very strong. Initially named substitute Charlie Griffin was allowed to be replaced by Peter Vincenti after Griffin’s wife went into labour.
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The first real attempt on goal after only 3 minutes saw Kettering’s Marcus Kelly hit a free kick well over Chris Day’s crossbar. Former Poppy, David Bridges had Borough’s first attempt after 12 minutes and his crisp 25 yarder was wide of Nathan Abbey’s left upright.

Stevenage began to take control after 15 minutes, although Mitchell Cole’s free kick was easily collected by Abbey. Then Stacy Long had space on the right and his cross gave Bridges a clear shot on goal but it was straight at Abbey.

After 20 minutes a sickening clash of heads saw both Jon Ashton and Andre Boucaud leave the field and both had to be substituted. Ashton subsequently had nine stitched in a forehead wound and Boucaud had to attend hospital to have stitches in his nose and mouth and to have attention to a broken nose.

Three minutes later, Bridges gain had an opening but his shot was poor. Kettering substitute Jordan Hadfield saw his shot blocked after a good ball from James Dance and again Marcus Kelly hit a free kick high over the bar.

The best chance of the game to date saw James Jennings clear Bridges shot off the line after Abbey had initially saved Lee Boylan’s shot. Borough substitute Joel Byrom shot well wide after a corner on 36 minutes.

Yemi Odubade, for the home team, made his first real contribution after 38 minutes as his cross was met by a diving header by Bridges- but Abbey saved well. Kettering finished the half well as Jennings won a corner and from that restart Jean-Paul Marna’s sharp turn and pass saw Hadfield shoot badly over.


Half Time:

Stevenage Borough 0 - 0 Kettering Town


The second half saw defences dominate for long spells and there were no goal attempts in the first third of the half. Long got the better of Jennings on the hour and crossed for Bridges- who side footed over the bar. The Poppies then had a great chance as James Dance’s cross found Kelly, but his right foot shot cleared the bar.

Stevenage brought on recent signing Tim Sills and with virtually his first touch he helped Stevenage take the lead. David Bridges’ deep cross to the right was headed back by Sills and a Stacy Long’s quality left foot strike from just inside the area beat Abbey low to his left.

Thereafter Stevenage looked to close the game down and Kettering could not make any impression on a solid home defence. It was not until the last quarter of an hour that the Poppies started to take the initiative. After Michael Bostwick’s free kick was wide, Jordan Hadfield shot over following a Kelly corner.

Kettering threw men forward looking for an equaliser and Greg Taylor and Kwesi Appiah joined Marna, Dance and Kelly in attack. Desperate defending by Bridges thwarted Appiah and then Marna’s goal bound shot was blocked. With John Dempster now also up in attack, Kettering threw caution to the wind- and the effort was to fail as a break out saw Stevenage have 5 players up against two defenders and a through ball saw Long advance past Abbey to walk in the second and final goal in the 94th and final minute of added time.

It had been a valiant effort by the visitors, who probably deserved more out of the game than they got.


Full Time

Stevenage Borough 2-0 Kettering Town



Attendance: 2136 (Poppies fans 255 )


Poppies Man of the Match: John Dempster.