Rushall Olympic 0 Kettering Town 1 - Report
Kettering Town maintained their position at the top of the table but they were made to fight all the way for their latest victory and had goalkeeper Paul White to thank for keeping out Kevin Monteiro`s close ranger header in injury time.
In a hard fought game chances were few and far between and both defences were resolute throughout. It tool eleven minutes for first worthy effort when Gary Stohrer shot over and moments later the home side replied but Ashley Sammons chip shot was just too high.
The visitors put the best move of the game together after twenty five minutes when good play between Lindon Meikle and Aaron O`Connor saw O`Connor break down the right and when he cut inside his fierce shot rebounded off the post before being cleared for a corner and it was from the resultant kick that the Poppies scored the only goal of the game when Michael Richens rose highest to power home Marcus Kelly`s corner.
Rushall hit back when Danny Waldron`s cross was met by Simeon Maye but the midfielder hammered his shot well wide and debutant Danny O`Callaghan found Tyler Lyttle on the right but the full back`s cross cum shot flew across the face of the goal.
There was a great chance for the home side at the start of the second half when O`Callaghan got in behind the Poppies defence but couldn`t find a way past White and the league-leaders hit back when Dan Holman saw his shot blocked for a corner.
It was developing into a midfield battle but in the final stages of the game the home side came close twice to forcing a draw when substitute Edwin Ahenkorah fired wildly over and then another substitute Kevin Monteiro saw his close range header brilliantly kept out by White as the visitors hung on for three more points.
