Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

KETTERING TOWN 1 - 0 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Saturday 27th January 2007

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods were party to the Rockinghm Road circus for the second season in succession, only this time it was Ron Atkinson who swelled the home crowd, sufficiently to delay the kick-off by ten minutes, which also significantly inconvenienced a number of visitng fans' travel arrangements after the game.

Just as last season, though, the Bloods were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline, conceding a goal in the second half of the game.

Droylsden were significantly hampered by the flu bug which had stricken strikers Terry Fearns and Steve Daly, leaving boss Dave Pace with little option but to adopt a 4-5-1, with Steve Jagielka given licence to support lone striker Jody Banim.

The system worked well in the first half, as Droylsden contained their hosts, but also created some half chances of their own.

Andy Hall and Rene Howe placed dangerous crosses into the Droylsden box in the early stages, but there was no-one to apply the finishing touch.

Chris Denham also forced an error out of Mark Osborn in the Kettering goal after he had robbed Marcel McKie, but Craig McIlwain was on hand to clear.

The first shot on target fell to Kettering, but Paul Phillips held on to Craig Westcarr's free kick with Brett Solkhon waiting to pounce.

Andre Boucard then shot wastefully wide for the Poppies from a central position, before Gareth Morris forced Osborn into a save low to his left following a free kick for a foul on Jamie Tandy.

Kettering came out of the blocks quickly after the re-start, with the impressive Westcarr showing quick feet to create a shooting chance for himself, but Phillips was equal to it.

Westcarr then headed wide for the hosts, and Howe should have done better with another header from a free kick, but the key mometns of the match came in the final fifteen minutes.

Firstly, Jagielka's flick sent Banim away, but Osborn spread himself well to save his volley. Moments later, a fine passing move by the hosts culminated in Westcarr playing in Howe, who drew Phillips before slotting past him with the outside of his right boot.

With two minutes of the ninety remaining, the Bloods won a free kick for a foul on Banim, who picked himself up to curl an effort over the wall, but it didn't dip in time and rattled Osborn's crossbar.

In added time, Droylsden's frustrations were manifested through Chris Denham, whose tackle from behind won the ball, but the angle of the challenge caused Mr. Radford to consult with his assistant before showing an instant red to the Bloods' winger (who will now face another suspension), which summed-up Droylsden's day.

The defeat leaves Kettering five points behind the Bloods with one game in hand (at Scarborough on Tuesday night), but Droylsden can put more daylight between them on Saturday when Leigh RMI visit the Butcher's Arms, with the Poppies in FA Trophy action at home to Salisbury City.

KETTERING TN.: Osborn, Graham, McKie, Theobald, McIlwain, Solkhon, Westcarr, Boucard, Howe, Marna, Hall.

SUBS: Dempster (for McKie, 17), Nicell (for Boucard, 90 and 3), Makofo (for Hall, 62), Okai (not used), Bussey (not used).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Vaughan 7, Halford 7, Robinson 8, Ruffer 7, Morris 6, Tandy 6, Kelly 7, Banim 7, Jagielka 7, DENHAM 8.

SUBS: Williams 6 (for Tandy, 80), Lynch 5 (for Morris, 80), Rapley 6 (for Halford, 57), Burke (not used), Warner (not used).

ATTENDANCE: 2,352

REFEREE: Mr. N. Radford (Worcester)

SCORERS:

Kettering Town - Howe, 78