Isham Cricket Club This Saturday I was pretty much resigned to another match on plastic, especially after seeing postponements coming in thick and fast. However, midway through the morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the game on top of my grass list was on. The match in question was the Northants Combination Premier clash between Kettering Nomads and Blisworth. Still wary of last-minute changes in the weather, I set out a little early to give myself ample time to get back to Earls Barton United's 3G pitch should this one get called off.
With league leaders Roade sitting twelve points clear at the start of play, both second placed Bliswoth and fifth placed Kettering knew that a win today was essential. Both had games in hand, Blisworth two and Kettering five, but neither could catch the leaders even if they won them all. so they would still be counting on a mistake or two from Roade. The reverse fixture, played in October, had been a close encounter that Blisworth had edged 2-1. Today was expected to be much of the same.
Blisworth had a very good penalty shootout win against Desborough Town in the Les Underwood Cup last weekend, but suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at Roade at the end of January. Nomads beat Heyford Athletic last weekend but also lost 2-1 at Roade the week before.
Many thanks to the Kettering Nomads official who fetched both team sheet for me to photograph before the game. Very much appreciated.
With league leaders Roade sitting twelve points clear at the start of play, both second placed Bliswoth and fifth placed Kettering knew that a win today was essential. Both had games in hand, Blisworth two and Kettering five, but neither could catch the leaders even if they won them all. so they would still be counting on a mistake or two from Roade. The reverse fixture, played in October, had been a close encounter that Blisworth had edged 2-1. Today was expected to be much of the same.
Blisworth had a very good penalty shootout win against Desborough Town in the Les Underwood Cup last weekend, but suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at Roade at the end of January. Nomads beat Heyford Athletic last weekend but also lost 2-1 at Roade the week before.
Many thanks to the Kettering Nomads official who fetched both team sheet for me to photograph before the game. Very much appreciated.
Blisworth couldn't find the net in the 1st half Although Blisworth started this game on the front foot, it was Joe Mann's 11th minute effort for Kettering that provided the first real strike in anger. It was wide of the mark, as too was Kaine Clinton's free-kick a couple of minutes later. However Sam Starkey, in the home goal, was the first of the two goalkeepers to get his knees dirty when he had to dive to his right to push away Adefolarin Ademidun's effort, before the rebound was sent spiralling over the bar.
The team's continued to spar, but it was Blisworth who looked the more dangerous of the two, and Jamal Said sent a shot whistling past Starkey's goal just before the half-hour mark as if to emphasise the point. So, it was somewhat against the general run of play when Nomads took the lead in the 31st minute. Oscar Horton was the beneficiary, getting on the end of a ball into the box, after good work up the left flank. 1-0
Four minutes later the home side thought they had doubled their advantage when Josh Mcadoo spilled a long-range effort. Charlie Wilson was first to react, nipping in to lift the loose ball over the keeper, only for the assistant to put his flag up. The home players and bench were convinced that the striker was onside, but the referee agreed with the assistant. No goal. To be honest, from the opposite end of the pitch, it was impossible to get a perspective.
HT Kettering Nomads 1 Blisworth 0. Nomads take a lead into the break despite Blisworth creating slightly more opportunities. All to play for with not a great dela to choose between the teams.
The team's continued to spar, but it was Blisworth who looked the more dangerous of the two, and Jamal Said sent a shot whistling past Starkey's goal just before the half-hour mark as if to emphasise the point. So, it was somewhat against the general run of play when Nomads took the lead in the 31st minute. Oscar Horton was the beneficiary, getting on the end of a ball into the box, after good work up the left flank. 1-0
Four minutes later the home side thought they had doubled their advantage when Josh Mcadoo spilled a long-range effort. Charlie Wilson was first to react, nipping in to lift the loose ball over the keeper, only for the assistant to put his flag up. The home players and bench were convinced that the striker was onside, but the referee agreed with the assistant. No goal. To be honest, from the opposite end of the pitch, it was impossible to get a perspective.
HT Kettering Nomads 1 Blisworth 0. Nomads take a lead into the break despite Blisworth creating slightly more opportunities. All to play for with not a great dela to choose between the teams.
Kettering looking to get back into the game The wind seemed to have picked up a little during the break, and was now in the favour of Blisworth for the second half. They immediately set about using the conditions in their favour. First Dylan Surace and then Ross Watson tried their luck from distance, using wind assistance. Both were marginally off target
However, just before the hour mark, the visitors were level. Jamal Said picking the ball up some 25 yards out, steadying himself and sending a dipping drive beyond Starkey's right hand into the bottom corner. 1-1
Just the other side of the hour there was an unusual incident that confused a few of the onlookers for a while. McAdoo collected the ball in his area and, as he was about to throw it out, changed his mind. He dropped the ball right on the edge of the box before picking it up again. The referee blew for a free-kick with the majority, myself included, believing the keeper had handled outside the box. However, the ball was placed inside the area and it soon became apparent that the free-kick had been awarded because the keeper picked the ball up again after first releasing it. As it happened, nothing came of the free-kick.
Five minutes later, with just over 20 minutes remaining, Blisworth produced the best piece of football in the game. A series of quick passes and movement off the ball ended with Morgan Littlejohn playing a one-two and slipping the ball under Starkey. 1-2.
Two became three after 77 minutes when Don Gillard sent a low, skimming shot past Starkey from 25 yards. Great strike for 1-3 and possibly game over. However, Kettering substitute Max Jelliman had other ideas. Two minutes after conceding the third goal, Jelliman found the ball in front of him, just inside the Blisworth half. A quick glance revealed McAdoo to be off his line, allowing Jelliman launched a perfect 45 yard lob over the stranded keeper. 2-3
Nomads were now looking to get back on level terms and were not too far off when Matty Sherwood let fly, missing the target by a narrow margin. However, they were leaving gaps at the back in the ir efforts to get a goal and, on 83 minutes, were a little lucky when Blisworth had a fourth goal disallowed for offside. To be fair, there were no real complaints from the visitors.
Then, with the minutes ticking down, Clinton said a little too much to the referee and earned a sin-bin, reducing Nomads to 10 for the final few minutes. They almost paid the price when Ross Watson was sent clear, but Starkey was out quickly to make a great one-handed block. There was still enough added time to almost allow Clinton to return to the action, but whilst the Nomads bench were trying to get him back on, the referee finally blew for the end of the game.
FT Kettering Nomads 2 Blisworth 3. A crucial three points for Blisworth, who keep their slim chances of catching Road alive. The result leaves them 9 points adrift of the leaders with one game in hand. Kettering stay in fifth, 21 points off top spot with four games in hand.
Next weekend Nomads make the trip to Corby to face Stewart & Lloyds in the first of a double-header, with the return match taking place the following Saturday. Blisworth are back at home as Corby Pegasus come calling. A first league meeting this season, but Blissy did win 2-1 at Glebe Park in the Les Underwood Cup back in October.
Kettering Nomads: Starkey, Hale, Boyce-Chong(c), Lingley, Tolton, Heads, Mann, Horton, Wilson, Clinton, Cawkill. Subs: Sherwood, Jelliman, Proctor
Bisworth: Mcadoo, Sergeant(c), Bazeley, Redding, Gartland, Gillard, Said, Surace, Wilkes, Ademidun, Watson. Subs: Heasman, Hadley, Hogben, Littlejohn
However, just before the hour mark, the visitors were level. Jamal Said picking the ball up some 25 yards out, steadying himself and sending a dipping drive beyond Starkey's right hand into the bottom corner. 1-1
Just the other side of the hour there was an unusual incident that confused a few of the onlookers for a while. McAdoo collected the ball in his area and, as he was about to throw it out, changed his mind. He dropped the ball right on the edge of the box before picking it up again. The referee blew for a free-kick with the majority, myself included, believing the keeper had handled outside the box. However, the ball was placed inside the area and it soon became apparent that the free-kick had been awarded because the keeper picked the ball up again after first releasing it. As it happened, nothing came of the free-kick.
Five minutes later, with just over 20 minutes remaining, Blisworth produced the best piece of football in the game. A series of quick passes and movement off the ball ended with Morgan Littlejohn playing a one-two and slipping the ball under Starkey. 1-2.
Two became three after 77 minutes when Don Gillard sent a low, skimming shot past Starkey from 25 yards. Great strike for 1-3 and possibly game over. However, Kettering substitute Max Jelliman had other ideas. Two minutes after conceding the third goal, Jelliman found the ball in front of him, just inside the Blisworth half. A quick glance revealed McAdoo to be off his line, allowing Jelliman launched a perfect 45 yard lob over the stranded keeper. 2-3
Nomads were now looking to get back on level terms and were not too far off when Matty Sherwood let fly, missing the target by a narrow margin. However, they were leaving gaps at the back in the ir efforts to get a goal and, on 83 minutes, were a little lucky when Blisworth had a fourth goal disallowed for offside. To be fair, there were no real complaints from the visitors.
Then, with the minutes ticking down, Clinton said a little too much to the referee and earned a sin-bin, reducing Nomads to 10 for the final few minutes. They almost paid the price when Ross Watson was sent clear, but Starkey was out quickly to make a great one-handed block. There was still enough added time to almost allow Clinton to return to the action, but whilst the Nomads bench were trying to get him back on, the referee finally blew for the end of the game.
FT Kettering Nomads 2 Blisworth 3. A crucial three points for Blisworth, who keep their slim chances of catching Road alive. The result leaves them 9 points adrift of the leaders with one game in hand. Kettering stay in fifth, 21 points off top spot with four games in hand.
Next weekend Nomads make the trip to Corby to face Stewart & Lloyds in the first of a double-header, with the return match taking place the following Saturday. Blisworth are back at home as Corby Pegasus come calling. A first league meeting this season, but Blissy did win 2-1 at Glebe Park in the Les Underwood Cup back in October.
Kettering Nomads: Starkey, Hale, Boyce-Chong(c), Lingley, Tolton, Heads, Mann, Horton, Wilson, Clinton, Cawkill. Subs: Sherwood, Jelliman, Proctor
Bisworth: Mcadoo, Sergeant(c), Bazeley, Redding, Gartland, Gillard, Said, Surace, Wilkes, Ademidun, Watson. Subs: Heasman, Hadley, Hogben, Littlejohn
Nice views at Isham
The Ground
Kettering Nomads play their home games at Isham Cricket Club which is situated between the villages of Isham and Orlingbury, some five miles south of Kettering. The club has a reasonably large car park with additional parking available on the road outside the ground. Next to the car park is the club house and patio area that looks out over the playing fields. The football pitch is at the far end of the ground, beyond the cricket pitch and has a backdrop of open countryside. There's no spectator cover around the pitch and no dugouts. The playing surface, although in need of a trim, looked to be in pretty good condition given the recent wet weather, and clearly drains quite well.
Ground Number: 479
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Kettering Nomads play their home games at Isham Cricket Club which is situated between the villages of Isham and Orlingbury, some five miles south of Kettering. The club has a reasonably large car park with additional parking available on the road outside the ground. Next to the car park is the club house and patio area that looks out over the playing fields. The football pitch is at the far end of the ground, beyond the cricket pitch and has a backdrop of open countryside. There's no spectator cover around the pitch and no dugouts. The playing surface, although in need of a trim, looked to be in pretty good condition given the recent wet weather, and clearly drains quite well.
Ground Number: 479
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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