Kettering Town 2 Chelmsford City 0 - Jon Dunham’s review

Jon Dunham gives his observations on the game…

The power of the ‘North’ outmuscled the ‘South’

A clash between the National League North and the National League South was won by the former.

For Kettering Town, it was the perfect start and they were every inch what I expected to see from a Paul Cox team.

Solid in defence and pressing high from the front with tireless displays all over the pitch, this is the Cox way.

Chelmsford were keen to get the ball down and pass and they were keen to do that from the back.

The homework had clearly been done because the Poppies’ front four were in their faces right from the first whistle and ensured the visitors, at times, had to play longer than they probably wanted to.

It was a powerful display from Cox’s team and it’s how they will have to be every week in the division they play in, it’s just that sort of league.

And, on this occasion, the power of the ‘North’ was just too much for the ‘South’ to handle.

Solid defences laid the foundations

You only have to look at Kettering’s results in pre-season to see just how important having a solid defence is to Paul Cox.

There were clean sheets aplenty in the friendlies and the first one of the season-proper duly arrived on the opening day.

Luke Graham, who was wearing the captain’s armband, and Ryan Fryatt were outstanding at the heart of the back four - winning headers right, left and centre.

Gary Stohrer picked up where he left off after enjoying a fine campaign at right-back last time out.

And while left-back probably isn’t the favoured position of experienced campaigner Michael McGrath, he might just be playing there for a while after a typically robust display.

There was some real no-nonsense defending on show and, on the odd occasion where the defences were breached, the last line of it really looks the part.

Adam Collin was unquestionably the eye-catching signing of the summer for the Poppies and, although he wasn’t called into action that often on this occasion, he still preserved the clean sheet with a superb save in stoppage-time.

The Poppies looked, if nothing else, solid. And that will please Cox more than anything.

A fine start for the new arrivals

Any attacking player coming into a new club will always be desperate to hit the ground running with a goal and two of the Poppies’ summer signings did just that.

Lorne Bickley got the final touch to give Kettering a deserved lead at half-time and then Decarrey Sheriff won and then converted a penalty to wrap things up 11 minutes from the end.

They made up half of what looked like a very lively front four for the Poppies and it would be unfair not to acknowledge the contribution of the other two.

Josh Scott, signing on a youth loan from Mansfield Town on Friday, was given the task of leading the line and did so impressively.

And Sam Jones, who played in the ‘10’ role showed plenty of quality.

As a unit, they pressed high and ensured Chelmsford weren’t allowed to get their passing game going.

Positive signs from the new boys.

Paul Cox is right, football is nothing without the fans

The Poppies said it before the game and then reiterated it afterwards - football is nothing without the fans.

There’s nothing any of us can say that is going to change the situation. For the time being, fans won’t be able to come and watch matches at Latimer Park.

We could debate it all day, but that’s just the way it is.

For those of us fortunate to be allowed in, it was a surreal experience.

When the teams emerged, it felt like a friendly but events on the pitch quickly changed that.

What was more surreal was hearing the cheers from the clubhouse as Kettering’s goals went in with a number of supporters on hand to watch the live stream of the game over a pint.

And let’s give credit to the club and ‘Poppies TV’ for the service they are trying to provide in the circumstances. They are doing all they can to ensure the supporters don’t miss a kick.

I am pleased the absent fans were able to see their team win. But they were missed inside the ground.

I truly hope it won’t be too long until they are allowed to be back where they belong.