Report by Jools Thomas

As it was Daniel Murphy’s free kick crashed against the bar before hitting the ground and bouncing away to safety leaving the visitors to claim all three points.

90 minutes plus injury time earlier it was FC who had the first chance with Brian Haule forcing Jamie McAlindon into a save ‘for the cameras’. Claudio Hoban replied after 10 minutes. He broke the offside trap but found home keeper James Weatherill racing from the goal to block. A mistake by Jeanmal Prosper allowed Hoban in again a few minutes later and a combination of ricochet and Weatherill saw the ball ping to safety. Kettering continued to press and on 12 minutes, Andy Hull attacked on the right but he contrived to scuff his shot on a somewhat bobbly pitch. The next incident saw Elliott Sandy play in Hull whose dangerous cross failed to find a team mate. FC had hardly posed an attacking threat however Sonny French let out a shot in anger on 19 minutes with his attempt whisking wide of the post. This was to be a temporary respite as Kettering took the lead not long afterwards. Despite Connor Baker’s best efforts to clear the danger, Daniel Murphy’s mistake led to a chance for Sandy who made no mistake from a couple of yards. A couple of minutes later, the away team’s advantage was doubled. Ben Stevens was robbed on the edge of the box and Claudio Hoban made no mistake drilling in a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net. Sandy and Hull were now in their element as the away team looked to run riot with Hull in particular testing Weatherill from range. Brian Haule saw his glancing header sail past the post on a rare FC foray before Connor Baker saw a similar effort produce the same result.

The start of the second half witnessed the away team wasting no time in trying to extend their lead. Dubi Ogbona troubled Weatherill with a truncated effort on 47 minutes before Kyle Anthony, operating in an advanced midfield role, popped a header just wide of the post. More chances developed for the away team. A half chance for Sandy was quickly followed by an effort from James Clifton which Weatherill did well to beat. These ventures were followed by an acrobatic overhead kick from Ogbana. FC reminded their supporters that they could also pose an attacking threat as Sonny French scuffed a shot before Bradley Wadkins knocked a powerful header over the bar.

On 71 minutes Ben Stevens committed a foul against a Kettering attacker and the referee had no option but to award a penalty. James Weatherill performed a magnificent save from Andy Gooding. Still Kettering surged forward with Ogbana hitting the post with a downward header a couple of minutes later. Aylesbury weathered this storm and as the game entered its final few minutes the team began to show a little more attacking acumen. Firstly Sonny French was unlucky after a powerful Gareth Price darting run before Price’s goal bound header on 79 minutes was handled on the line by Andy Hull. The referee had no option but to send the Kettering man off and from the resultant spot kick, Bradley Wadkins neatly tucked the ball away to make the score 2-1.

FC now pushed forward for an unlikely equaliser. Sonny French was fed from the right but could not keep his effort down. On 88 minutes a combination of Gareth Price, defender, goalkeeper and a deflection saw the ball squirm away to safety. Connor Baker then saw his looping header just the crossbar and deep into injury time Murphy saw his kick hit the bar with the referee drawing the game to a close just a few seconds later.