Report
When I told my nephew that I was going to Burton Latimer he asked me who did he play for then. I explained that it was Latimer Park, a stadium Kettering had developed over recent years and was the original home of Burton Park Wanderers, who still play there.
I added that Kettering were currently top of the league and were hoping for automatic promotion as champions. That ruled out any charitable disposition as regards the points, as both clubs needed them for different reasons. I also said, in confidence that I expected a convincing defeat. I am delighted to say that in that last point I was very wrong.
It was evident that the breeze would have some influence on the accuracy of play as evidenced by Daniel Jezeph needing to judge a back pass with greater exertion. Home supporters were soon in good voice, but the first chance fell to Hitchin with a forward pass from Jones to Deall but it was nullified then there was a fair cross from Franklin with Dixon – Smith trying to make something of it. Stokoe combined with Martins who shot wide.
But this had been a good opening ten minutes for Hitchin. The hosts had looked tentative. They had a free kick but were pushed back. Their first attack, after fifteen minutes of mediocre play brought an over hit cross, carried by that wind. Hitchin broke from defence but Deall’s efforts were blocked by superior numbers. At the other end Stacey cut out a promising cross. Hutchinson ran on to a swirling pass, but it favoured Jezeph.
There is no doubt that the blustery conditions affected play and skilful execution and if Hitchin’s predilection for the piercing long ball that relentlessly came to grief, it may also be noted that the hosts were not disdainful of this tactic. But the best chance came from Fifield who shot over the bar from the Poppies and most of us thought that Jamar Lozar had scored the opening goal but he was just a whisper wide.
This was followed by a Hitchin corner, succeeded quickly by another and a chance for Jones that was defended well. But here was another instance of Hitchin’s prolonged threat of seizing the lead.
In a half that was difficult to pick out meaningful highlights, it may be remarked that it was no easy task to state with confidence which team was the possible league champions, and which was probably consigned to relegation.
With no sun coming into the stand where I was sitting, it was very cold and I was glad of the respite, and my colleagues sensibly went to collect their coats from their cars before the commencement of the second half.
An unforced error at the outset brought yet another Hitchin corner rapidly followed by a spirited effort on goal. By any standard Hitchin had done well so far, and somewhat unexpectedly they snatched an audacious lead after fifty-two minutes with Dominic Dos Santos Martins scoring on the spin. It was the result of a purposeful attack and Hitchin had looked the better side at the start of this half. The purple-shirted away supporters were suitably joyous at this unexpected lead.
But the Poppies soon began to press conscious of the blow to prestige should they lose. Heaps was replaced by Tearle after an hour and the hosts made a couple of significant substitutions themselves. The visitors were now under a bit of pressure, but Hutchinson did get away for a disappointingly weak shot. Kettering made a fourth substitution. They meant business but had no customers at the moment, so to speak.
Deall almost latched on to a forward pass but back came the Poppies and erelong Bell replaced Stokoe. Jezeph went down injured and this saw both teams assemble at the bench areas presumably for exhortations. We had played over seventy- five minutes and the Canaries were holding out, not in style but in defiance, with the hosts wasting chances with poor finishing.
Stacey performed heroics in front of a sizeable crowd that peopled the stand, and it was a good example to his team mates who were working hard. It was remarkable that Kettering had produced moments that were spoiled by themselves rather than the rogue wind. By way of contrast there was an excellent finish by Rio Deall who had broken free in possession and slipped the ball delicately past Jezeph, with seven minutes of normal time remaining. It was a remarkable goal as the home defence was notable for its absence and Deall kept his head. Celebrations were shared with supporters, and we believed we could again gain maximum points at Latimer Park.
As always, there was a sting in the tail, and it came right at the end of the match where the team in purple conspired to apply an unfitting conclusion where every weakness seemed to prevail.
This two-goal lead ought to have brought some comfort but at eighty-nine minutes Jonny Edwards converted a penalty for the Poppies that was greeted somewhat noisily by home supporters. Five additional minutes were added, and we hoped for no Achilles heel but sensible defending and maybe a good counter attack or two. I must say that it looked like the odds were against Hitchin as the majority of the 1167 in the ground urged the hosts to preserve their dignity and I mean both the team and the supporters.
Hutchinson, in possession, went for the corner when he might have produced a cross. But they were in the opposition half for the time being. Time, ah yes, it can be a healer, but can also be cruel and a low shot by Lewis White right at the end brought Kettering a point that saved their blushes but it was a point they did not deserve.
But do not take my word for it; after the final whistle a number of home supporters spoke to me and were in agreement that Hitchin had been robbed of maximum points, having been the better side. They qualified their statements by deriding their team’s underwhelming performance as one-dimensional and ineffective. The equaliser was well-taken, though and we do not dispute the penalty decision.
Given the conditions it was never going to be a polished classic of a game, but the form book was decidedly challenged by a determined Hitchin side whose attitude was admirable and if they were not actually flying, they were falling in style. I emphasise again that this is one game they thoroughly deserved to win, and those extra points may well have delayed our doom. But we can be proud of what they did today and be charitable about the misgivings of the dramatic conclusion.
KETTERING TOWN
Jezeph, Hart, Powell, Kelly—Evans, Johnson, captain, Gudger, York, Thanoj, Wilkinson, Fifield, Loza, this reporter’s man of the match,
Substitutes used- Edwards, PENALTY GOAL, 90 minutes, 1-2, White, GOAL 90+4 minutes, Wilson, McLintock. Substitutes not used – Pennant.
HITCHIN TOWN
Stacey, Franklin, Dixon-Smith, Syme, Odell- Bature, Jones, captain, Deall, GOAL, 83 minutes, 0-2, Heaps, cautioned, Hutchinson, Stokoe, Martins. GOAL, 52 minutes, 0-1. Substitutes used – Tearle, Sinclair-Linton, McNeill, Bell. Not used – Joy.
Referee – Mr M Patterson, assisted by Mr W Norris and Mr T Kennedy.
Attendance 1167
Report by Pipeman.