Kettering Town
0
Slough Town
0
League
Attendance: 824
Guy Hollis
Any hopes of an entertaining game of football between the second and third-placed teams in EVO-STIK South Premier were thwarted by strong winds at Latimer Park, with both sides finding chances hard to come by in this stalemate.
Slough are a resilient force this season though, and ground out a hard-fought point which was enough to take them to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of King’s Lynn Town, who saw their match at Gosport Borough postponed.
It was clear early on that the conditions would play a major part in proceedings, with a Kettering corner kick being blown straight over the bar.
Slough were playing against the wind, but both sides struggled to retain possession. The Rebels’ first real sight of goal came as Nathan Webb dispossessed Ben Toseland and tried to find Brad Wadkins, but the big striker saw the ball run away from him and Paul White gathered comfortably.
Toseland tried to find Rene Howe at the other end, but an excellent intervention denied him a shooting chance.
Kettering forced a series of corner kicks later in the half, all of which were dealt with well by Slough, and the hosts’ first effort of note came from Gary Stohrer, but Jack Turner was equal to it.
Slough withstood the pressure and went into the break level, knowing that their hosts would be up against the wind in the second period – and after replacing Chris Flood with James Dobson, the visitors started well with White claiming an effort easily before holding a strike from Lee Togwell.
Kettering went up the other end and good interplay between Stohrer and Aaron O’Connor resulted in Turner getting down well to save at the latter’s feet.
Set pieces were always going to be important given the conditions, and Kettering wasted two opportunities from free kicks, with Stohrer firing one over the bar before Michael Richens fired a second into the defensive wall.
Kettering started to get on top, and a half-chance fell for Howe, but he snatched at the shot and the ball dribbled wide.
O’Connor saw a shot deflected wide after good play from Lindon Meikle to beat his man and get to the by-line, but Slough continued to show their battling qualities and repelled the effort.
Slough created little themselves, and Guy Hollis tried to launch long throws into the Kettering box where the opportunity arose, but to no avail.
The Rebels now look forward to a home league fixture against Gosport on Tuesday evening at Arbour Park.
Slough are a resilient force this season though, and ground out a hard-fought point which was enough to take them to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of King’s Lynn Town, who saw their match at Gosport Borough postponed.
It was clear early on that the conditions would play a major part in proceedings, with a Kettering corner kick being blown straight over the bar.
Slough were playing against the wind, but both sides struggled to retain possession. The Rebels’ first real sight of goal came as Nathan Webb dispossessed Ben Toseland and tried to find Brad Wadkins, but the big striker saw the ball run away from him and Paul White gathered comfortably.
Toseland tried to find Rene Howe at the other end, but an excellent intervention denied him a shooting chance.
Kettering forced a series of corner kicks later in the half, all of which were dealt with well by Slough, and the hosts’ first effort of note came from Gary Stohrer, but Jack Turner was equal to it.
Slough withstood the pressure and went into the break level, knowing that their hosts would be up against the wind in the second period – and after replacing Chris Flood with James Dobson, the visitors started well with White claiming an effort easily before holding a strike from Lee Togwell.
Kettering went up the other end and good interplay between Stohrer and Aaron O’Connor resulted in Turner getting down well to save at the latter’s feet.
Set pieces were always going to be important given the conditions, and Kettering wasted two opportunities from free kicks, with Stohrer firing one over the bar before Michael Richens fired a second into the defensive wall.
Kettering started to get on top, and a half-chance fell for Howe, but he snatched at the shot and the ball dribbled wide.
O’Connor saw a shot deflected wide after good play from Lindon Meikle to beat his man and get to the by-line, but Slough continued to show their battling qualities and repelled the effort.
Slough created little themselves, and Guy Hollis tried to launch long throws into the Kettering box where the opportunity arose, but to no avail.
The Rebels now look forward to a home league fixture against Gosport on Tuesday evening at Arbour Park.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jack Turner
- 2 Sean Fraser
- 3 George Wells
- 4 Guy Hollis
- 5 Mark Nisbet
- 6 Alan Inns
- 7 Lee Togwell
- 8 Nathan Webb
- 9 Brad Wadkins
- 10 Chris Flood 16
- 11 Matthew Lench
Substitutes
- 12 Josh Jackman
- 14 Nathan Smart
- 15 Simon Dunn
- 16 James Dobson 10
- 18 Manny Williams
Kettering Town Lineup
Paul White, Durrell Berry, Ben Toseland, Brett Solkhon (c), Gary Mulligan, Michael Richens, Gary Stohrer (Rhys Hoenes), Aaron O'Connor, Rene Howe (Matthew Stevens), Ben Milnes (Marshall Willock), Lindon Meikle. Unused substitutes: James Brighton, Jordan Wright.