Kingstonian 5-2 Kettering Town
POPPIES WITHER AND DIE DUE TO OVER-WATERING

Three days after the original date, this game was surprisingly still on after three days of rain. But when considering the state of the pitch, it seems difficult to see the reason for last Saturday' postponement, as it was in fine condition. However, with the rain falling, and getting worse just before kick-off, there were some concerns as to whether the game would finish. But finish it did, and it proved to be a great night for the K's. Kettering had brought two coach loads of fans for the game - three down on what they had expected on Saturday - but sadly another dismally low attendance, 624, was interspersed with the gaps at Kingsmeadow.

With Lee Boylan's loan spell ending, David Leworthy returned to the line-up for the first time since Boxing Day - and he made up just a part of what must be Chapple's first choice eleven. But it was the visitors who, after waiting for K's to appear from the tunnel for what seemed an eternity, started the best. Unbeaten in ages, the league leaders showed why they are currently at the top of the table. They passed the ball well, moved for each other and generally coped with the slippery conditions much better than the K's.

It took just 8 minutes for them to have a good chance - a ball was played through for Lee Hudson, who challenged Steve Farrelly around the penalty spot. Luckily for Kingstonian, Farrelly just got there first to send the ball away for a throw, but not without some painful results to his leg. Four minutes later however, and Kettering had the lead. A cross from the left struck Colin Luckett and was heading goalwards before Farrelly turned it away to his right, but the ball was again sent across the goal, and Phil Brown had the easiest chance to score from a yard at the far post.

The referee got more involved in the game just after this. Hudson was shown the yellow card, supposedly for diving after a Gary Patterson challenge, and Geoff Pitcher also got booked, this time for a foul. Most of the crowd had realised that the wet conditions were making things difficult for the players, but the officials were obviously not taking this into account. Then, on 22 minutes the game changed totally. A ball was played through the K's defence for Lee Hudson to run onto. With defender's arms raised, the linesman followed suit by waving for offside and the whistle went. Perhaps Hudson didn't hear the sound above the tremendous atmosphere being generated inside the ground, as he proceeded to "shoot" at goal, albeit about twenty yards wide. The referee, Mr. Paul Alcock, of Paulo Di Canio fame, decided that he had kicked the ball away, produced another yellow card, then a red, and Kettering were down to ten men for the next 68 minutes.

From that moment on there was only ever going to be one winner. It wasn't exactly that Kettering couldn't play with ten, it just seemed that the reduction in numbers inspired K's to produce the football that we all know they can do. In fact, it didn't take any time at all for the chances to start arriving. With Simon Stewart being released from his defensive responsibilities he switched to a position somewhere on the right wing and was effective immediately. He picked up the ball mid-way inside the attacking half and set off on a run towards goal. Two defenders were left trailing before he unleashed a superb left foot shot from the edge of the box which missed the junction of post and bar by mere inches. Two minutes later, he sent a great ball through to Eddie on the right who tucked the ball in at the far post to equalise past Adam Sollitt.

From the moment they were reduced to ten until at least half time Kettering didn't have a shot. Leworthy made it 2-1 just before the half-hour when he converted a pass from Gary Patterson from the edge of the area, striking the net with incredible power - it must have been wind-assisted. Dave, looking very sharp, had two more good chances which he missed before the break, but in injury time, he put the finishing touch to a superb move. Colin Luckett back-heeled to Pitcher on the left who crossed to the near post. Eddie bent down to make himself into a two-foot high man to flick the ball on and Leworthy accepted the chance at the far post to give K's a two goal half-time cushion. The hooped Brazil were in full flow.

The second half was really just more of the same. Kettering's sub Ben Wright had a chance early on, which only gets a mention because he was the only player that this writer could discern the shirt number of. Which begs the question - why do Kettering have such a disgusting away kit ? Anyway, K's, in their ever popular red and white, soon took an unassailable 4-1 lead, when (uh-uh) Simon Stewart headed home a Pitcher corner. The number 8 had won the kick after another stunning run deep into the Kettering defence and a quick one-two with Leworthy's heel. The away fans felt that Pitcher had transgressed in front of them, the referee disagreed, and when the ball went in, Pitcher wandered over to the Poppies' fans to ask exactly what it was he'd done wrong. The answer of course is that he'd done absolutely nothing wrong. Alongside Gary Patterson, he was having yet another superb game in the midfield. He almost added the fifth just after, but shot over. Of course, another goal then would have killed the game, so K's, always trying to entertain, allowed Kettering back into the game once more.

A back-pass from Stewart was controlled by Farrelly in his area who then looked up to see who to pass to. Unfortunately all he saw were the whites of Brett McNamara's eyes, who managed to get to the goalkeeper's rushed kick-out and direct the ball into the empty net. Possibly with his knee. So with over half-an-hour left, the game was once more a contest. For the next few minutes, Kettering were back to their form of the game's opening, and had a few half-chances. But K's stood firm, with Stewart moving slightly deeper to help out in defence, and playing very well. The spell of pressure didn't last long, and the action soon moved back to the other end.

An incredibly high cross from Luckett was met by Kevin Rattray who somehow managed to shoot about twenty yards wide from in front of goal. Never mind. Another fine move was started by Stewart, involving Eddie, Leworthy and Luckett before the ball skimmed across the goalmouth, and then Leworthy was presented with the perfect opportunity to complete his first hat-trick since last March. A brilliant cross from Eddie on the right was controlled by the striker before he jinked past the last defender. With the goal at his mercy he decided to aim right into the top-right hand corner. His aim was off by a millimeter, and so the post kept him out. Leworthy then crossed to the scissor-kicking Kevin Rattray - unfortunately he didn't quite connect properly. Lessons needed from Ronaldo Dean Thomas perhaps.

There were a couple of long shots from the away side to be fair, but never much to threaten Farrelly, and there was just time left for Phil Brown to commit an horrendous foul on Eddie, for which he was rightly booked, and for K's to score the fifth. Another cross from Pitcher, this time on the left, found Eddie at the far post to notch his 98th goal for the club. Oh, and then Wright hit the K's post with a header. But it really didn't matter. The whistle went and K's could look forward to the fourth round visit to smelly-Whyteleafe in two weeks time. The league-leaders had been outplayed, outscored, and now they were out. The sending off certainly helped, but the main reason for this result was the fact that K's played as well as they have for some time. With the last five league games at Kingsmeadow ending in a draw, one can only hope that this form can be re-produced on a more regular basis. Who knows, K's could even over-take Kettering at the top. Well, they have nearly finished their season already...