Kelly’s last-gasp strike secures deserved FA Cup draw for Doughboys against Poppies
Rhys Kelly grabbed his moment late on at the Dog and Duck to earn Wellingborough Town a deserved replay against Kettering Town as both Northants rivals served up a brilliant 2-2 draw in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
The tie was everything a neutral fan would want with plenty of goalmouth action, the threat of an upset before the relief of Kettering fans was short lived by a last-minute equaliser that for now, keeps both team's unbeaten start to the season in tact.
Kettering could have scored as early as 30 seconds in when Eddie Panter was released, but his low driven shot was well kept out by eventual man of the match Dean Snedker.
At the other end, captain Jack O'Connor's dangerous header on six minutes caused havoc in the box having been half cleared by Paul White.
Snedker denied Panter again on nine minutes whilst Danny Draper's arrowed effort on 14 minutes was spilled by White only to be recovered before George Ball could latch onto the loose ball.
The game rarely had time to settle with Tai Flemming needing to hack clear off the line for the visitors on 30 minutes but the warning wasn't heeded and two minutes later, Wellingborough took the lead.
A Bayley Brown mistake on the edge of the box was punished by Lloyd Buckby who brilliantly captured the ball on the right before lofting the ball beyond White.
Kettering enjoyed a slightly better second half but were still second to every ball and disgruntlement amongst the large travelling support was palpable.
But the men in yellow began to tire and the Poppies pounced when a long throw from Flemming fell to Panter who hammered home from close range on 64 minutes.
A dangerous Zayh Hakeem ball across the face of goal needed to be cleared by Tom Leak as the hosts kept looking for the win, while Snedker again needed to be alert to keep out two Theo Alexandrou shots.
Relief for Poppies fans and order seemingly was restored on 84 minutes when Harvey Peters nodded home an Ismael Fatadjo corner - goal number 930 in Kettering's incredible tally of FA Cup goals.
But the Doughboys kept hounding their visitors and Draper forced a wonder save from White immediately from the restart but the pressure told a minute later with Kelly in the right place to turn in from a corner at the near post on 88 minutes.
Wellingborough boss Jake Stone was beaming with pride post match, but his squad didn't leave the tie unscathed with Ethan Johnson leaving the field with a bad calf strain.
Kettering too will be looking to make changes with captain Lawson D'Ath a crucial missing piece in the midfield, but management will not rush him back until fully fit.
Both sides have now seen what the other can do, and this enjoyable chess match will have to come to a conclusion one way or another on Tuesday night at Latimer Park (ko 7.45pm).