Two penalties and a dismissal enable Kettering Town to defeat Cirencester on the road.
Evo Stik Southern League 2016/17
Premier Division
Kettering Town 3 - 1 Cirencester Town
Cirencester made the long journey to Northamptonshire to face Kettering Town and lost - largely due to some controversial decisions by the match referee who awarded two penalty kicks to Kettering and sent off a Cirencester player in bizarre circumstances.
In a game that was played on a very firm bobbly pitch, making control and accurate passing difficult, it was Cirencester that took an early lead as KERRY MORGAN struck a low free kick from 25 yards inside the left post. 0-1.
Neither side was able to retain the ball for long and it became end to end with little goal threat although Kettering did clip the top of the crossbar and Alan Griffin had a strong penalty appeal rejected after being flattened by ‘keeper Paul White.
Ten minutes later the referee awarded a penalty kick to the home side after Aaron O'Connor went down in the box. NATHAN HICKS stepped up and aimed his kick towards the bottom left corner where Glyn Garner saved but the ball broke loose and Hicks reacted quickest to finish from 2 yards. 1-1.
After the interval Morgan struck the base of the left post and Garner pulled off a close range reflex save but the game changed as a contest midway through the half when Ellis Dunton was shown a second Yellow Card, followed by a Red Card, in rather bizarre circumstances. The home 'keeper punted the ball into Dunton's back as the left back retreated to his position and appealed. The referee responded to the shout, as he was not looking at the incident, and decided to award the second Yellow Card.
With five minutes of normal time remaining AARON O'CONNOR latched onto a long ball down their left channel and under pressure from Ben Brown managed to slip the ball past an advancing Garner and inside the far right post. 2-1.
On the stroke of 90 minutes Kettering were awarded a second penalty kick as Canavan fell to ground under challenge. JAMES HALL calmly placed his kick inside the right post as Garner dived to his right. 3-1.
Click here to read Dave Pyzer's match report.
This entry was posted on 02 April 2017 at 00:36 and is filed under First Team | Bonus Ball Lottery | Miscellaneous. You can leave a response here.
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