Poppies unable to bounce back as Bromsgrove claim big home win

Liam McDonald’s men were beaten 3-0 at Bromsgrove Sporting, which was another blow after a timid performance during the 2-0 defeat at Spalding United in midweek.

Kettering needed to show that they could bounce back and give supporters belief that there is still something to play for this season.

Instead, it was another chastening performance in which hosts Bromsgrove outperformed the Poppies in every department.

It means Kettering's promotions ambitions are vanishing quicker than it takes Australia to claim 20 English wickets.

Much has already been written about the Poppies’ desire for a fight, while their low confidence and scrambled thinking has also returned.

Now fitness has become a matter of concern, with many of the players struggling with the heavy Victoria Ground surface.

Bromsgrove started quickly, taking the lead after just 12 minutes as non-league stalwart Luke Benbow was allowed too much space inside the area to take not one, not two, but three touches, jinking past two blue shirts and shooting to the left of Jason Alexander.

Five minutes later, midfielder Tom Edge flashed a superb ball across the face of goal that needed the merest of touches to be turned home, and already Kettering were hanging on.

The Poppies’ only outlets were on the wings, but Callum Powell was proving very ineffective whilst Kai Fifield, for all his effort, was regularly knocked off the ball or guilty of trying a slide pass that was never on.

He did however create Kettering's best chance of the half, launching a run down the left and playing the ball to the edge of the area, finding captain George Forsyth and then James Clifton, whose curling low shot needed to be kept out.

The hosts were given a great chance to add a second on 33 minutes. Benbow again caused problems on the left-hand side and was brought down by Blaine Rowe inches inside the penalty box. Benbow dusted himself off to take the spot kick but Kettering's player of the season (there are not many other candidates at the moment), Alexander, dived the correct way with the ball pounding off his chest and away for a corner.

A triple substitution at half-time was the catalyst for a strong start to the second half for Kettering.

Wes York's introduction nearly brought the scores level when, on 50 minutes, a cross into the area from Ismael Fatadjo was chested down by Clifton, and York's placed shot was brilliantly kept out by Rory Brown from just yards away.

Despite this strong start and much noise from the travelling support in the pouring rain, Kettering conceded again on 55 minutes. A cross from the right by Edge appeared to have found James Sanderson in an offside position at the far post. His first shot was well blocked by Alexander, but he could only parry the ball back into the path of Sanderson who slotted the ball home at the second attempt.

Kettering did try to mount a comeback but every attack was either too slow or ended after a touch too many.

Fatadjo again dithered in the area on 70 minutes when a first time shot was the better option.

Lewis Coyle also had a low driven effort blocked minutes later.

On 89 minutes, Forsyth's header needed to be tipped over the bar. The resulting corner created another chance, but Rowe could only put his header over.

Chasing the game late on to try to set up a grandstand finish, Kettering left huge gaps at the back whilst Alexander was very advanced up the field.

A 90th minute free-kick on the halfway line was taken short, and new loan signing Theo Robinson was pick-pocketed by Edge who took several touches before launching the ball towards an empty Kettering goal from 40 yards out to snuff out any chance of a comeback.