Yorkshire Evening Post 30/11/09
Kettering Town v Leeds United: Match report
By Leon Wobschall
A county famous for its shoe industry, Northamptonshire – and it's sole cup representative remaining – threatened to put an embarrassing size 12 boot into United's cup hopes for the second season running.
Thankfully, an express delivery following yet another lightning Whites raid saved the day. And what a prize awaits.
Not surprisingly, it was the predatory feet of Jermaine Beckford that ensured the vast majority of the watching millions didn't start their festive celebrations early – those of a non-Whites persuasion anyway.
Although you sense the Leeds hordes landed the perfect Yuletide gift by way of yesterday's most tantalising of round three draws if they overcome the plucky Poppies in the replay at Elland Road.
Last year, it was a postman who dispatched United from the cup – remember Histon's Matt Langston anyone?
Twelve months on, it was a journeyman pro in the shape of Ian Roper who almost did the same.
The defender – who cut an unassuming bespectacled figure in his civvies after the game – is just the sort of player David-versus-Goliath cup shocks are forged on.
Roper's header in the 63rd-minute put Kettering on the cusp of further cup glory – 12 months on from reaching the fourth round – while United were staring down the barrel of their second-ever FA Cup defeat to non-league opponents.
But United avoided another Histon, thanks to Beckford, although it remains somewhat of a mystery just how they didn't book their round three spot at the first time of asking after having enough chances to win a whole plethora of cup ties. Relief may have been abounding following Beckford's 78th-minute leveller, but also a sense of disbelief that United didn't progress.
Boss Simon Grayson succinctly summed it up afterwards in saying: "We had too many chances to mention; we could be here all night!"
In the cold light of day, if Leeds hadn't booked their place in the round three draw, it would have been the mugging of all time after they created chances by the sack load.
Yes, Grayson could have well done without his troops having yet another game in a bumper December, but it's fair to say they won't need any motivating for the replay back in Yorkshire, with the whopping prize at the end of it in the shape of Manchester United.
With a heavy schedule of three games in six days, Grayson could have been tempted to make wholesale changes, but in the end, was pretty sparing in his tinkering.
The main changes were at the back with a rejigged defence lining up with Patrick Kisnorbo the latest addition to United's injury list after sitting the game out after picking up a knock last Tuesday night, with Andrew Hughes also missing.
Leigh Bromby switched to the heart of defence with Jason Crowe – no stranger to Northamptonshire from his time with the Cobblers – coming in for his first start since October 19 after recovering from a problematic hamstring injury.
Tony Capaldi was handed a debut at left-back in the absence of Hughes, but in the engine room, it was as you were from the Leyton Orient game with the same four deployed.
With Sam Vokes ineligible, Mike Grella – a late scorer in the 2-0 round one win at Oldham – was handed a rare start alongside Beckford, with United also boosted by the inclusion on the bench of fit-again Luciano Becchio.
A familiar face in the Poppies line-up was ex-United striker Anthony Elding, one of four loanees who started for the hosts.Home fans were issued with red cards to show their displeasure in the direction of the town's council – accused of dragging their feet over the club's hopes to move to pastures new – before kick-off.
But after last year's fiasco up the A14 at Histon, United were more preoccupied with not receiving their marching orders from the world's oldest club cup competition from yet another minnow. It was the underdogs who came out of the traps the quicker, with impish winger Richie Partridge showing no lack of confidence following a meandering run which ended in him shooting straight at Ankergren.
Moses Ashikodi then found a yard of space, but his shot was deflected tamely into the grasp of Ankergren, and the Poppies striker then ran at the heart of he United back four before the ball broke invitingly for Partridge, who cross-shot drifted agonisingly wide.
Emboldened by their side's start, the Poppies faithful's spirits rose, before United fired a telling warning.
A sliderule pass found the marauding Beckford in space and after he rounded onrushing keeper Lee Harper, his looped centre found its way to Snodgrass, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Jon Dempster.
Beckford was then cynicially brought down by Dempster, who was cautioned and soon after, the United top gun came desperately close to recording goal no.14 of another bountiful season.
A divine defence-splitting pass from Grella was latched onto by the striker, whose half-volley crashed against the bar and from the follow-up, Snodgrass' rising shot hit the outside of the upright.
Beckford's neat flick then presented a great chance to Grella, but he failed to connect with the outside of his foot when well placed.
Howson then headed wide following a juicy cross from Snodgrass when it looked easier to score as the litany of chances started to stack up before Dempster heroically blocked Grella's beefy volley.
The pattern continued after the break with Snodgrass' low shot held by veteran Harper before a terrific acrobatic clearance from Sol Davis diverted a goalbound effort from the Scot.
Despite being second-best for most of proceedings and struggling to create clear-cut chances, you got the impression that the Poppies might make United pay for their profligacy and every time the men in White missed a chance, the nagging feeling grew.
A rare home foray saw Elding shoot at Ankergren and the visitors were then handed a genuine scare when Simon Heslop steamed into the box before seeing his low effort diverted just wide – and then it happened.
Lubomir Michalik conceded a needless free-kick and the sloppiest of goals saw Roper beat the on-rushing Ankergren to the ball to head home following Partridge's centre.
After a horror-type Histon flashback, United faced a massive character battle as Kettering retreated en masse to try and protect their stunning lead.
Grayson threw on Becchio into the fray on 73 minutes as the Whites set their stall out to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the hosts.It was overtime for the home defence and Harper, who was considering retirement before the game due to the dual demands of playing and management, with a dodgy back adding to his chagrin. Harper pulled off a brilliant reaction save to deny Crowe and then made an even better one to somehow parry Michael Doyle's header from a few yards out. Beckford finally soothed fraying United nerves just when many away fans were contemplating that it just might not be Leeds' day, diverting Snodgrass' centre past Harper.
Doyle then ballooned over and the pressure continued with Howson screwing a shot wide following a magical run, while Heslop headed straight at Ankergren as the hosts claimed the briefest of periods of respite.
Leeds' grandstand finish failed to yield reward and the Poppies were left to revel in the most joyous of replays, which was celebrated with all the gusto of a cup final win at the end.
Times 30/11/09
Jermaine Beckford puts end to heroics from Lee Harper
Kettering Town 1 Leeds United 1
Tom Dart
This was a rousing tie bookended by red cards and Red Devils. Fresh fascination sprouted half an hour after the final whistle when only two balls remained to be scooped from the FA’s goldfish
bowl and those inside the social club attached to Kettering Town’s rusty old main stand yelled with joy at the realisation: Manchester United versus Kettering Town or Leeds United.
Let’s not underestimate the importance of that little “or”, because the Coca-Cola League One leaders’ only defeat at Elland Road this season was by Liverpool in the Carling Cup and they were by far the better team here yesterday.
Still, Kettering will now approach the replay with an evangelical zeal. It is not just a big night out but a means to several ends. To add to the thrill and profit in facing the Barclays Premier League champions, there is the potential power of publicity. As they seek a solution to problems that could force the club out of Kettering or out of business, another 90 minutes of fame to spread the word would place extra pressure on Kettering Borough Council, the club’s bête noire.
Hence the red cards — large cardboard ones waggled in the direction of the live television cameras before kick-off as a protest against the council, whom the club blame for scuppering a new stadium project. Kettering’s lease on Rockingham Road runs out in 3½ years and is unlikely to be extended. Imraan Ladak, the chairman, wants urgent action and has outlined doomsday scenarios including a merger with a local rival as soon as next summer.
This match was almost a serious calamity for Leeds, who were 12 minutes from going out of the Cup to a non-League side for the second time in a year. Twelve months ago today, they were knocked out in the second round by Histon, the part-timers from a village near Cambridge. Another debasement was averted when Jermaine Beckford deflected Robert Snodgrass’s low cross past Lee Harper to cancel out the header scored by Ian Roper 15 minutes earlier.
It was just reward for Leeds’s dominance, though Kettering were admirably resilient, especially Harper, their goalkeeper and player-manager. He made two stunning second-half saves from headers by Jason Crowe and Michael Doyle. The 38-year-old was contemplating retirement because of the difficulty in juggling two jobs but the Cup run has encouraged him to play on, despite a back injury.
“I’m sure I can carry on for another month, even if it takes a wheelchair to get me out there,” he said.
Telegraph 29/11/09
Kettering Town 1 Leeds United 1: match report
By David McVay
As a farewell concert, this performance almost brought the house down, an irony that will not be lost on Kettering Town.
Without funding or the backing of the local
council, the Blue Square Premier club’s future is bleak and their Rockingham Road ground is earmarked for demolition. When their lease ends in 2013, the intention is to pull the old place down and build houses on what has been Kettering’s home for over 100 years.
Although the lease ends in three years’ time, the club’s chairman Imraan Ladak has said that unless a solution is found in the next six weeks Kettering will face extinction at the end of this season.
Most local fans fear that this plucky draw with League One leaders Leeds United will be the ground’s FA Cup finale after a long and distinguished record in the competition that has seen some of the game’s rich and famous humbled.
If it is to be a swansong there could not be have been a more fitting one that yielded a tantalising twist even as the two teams sat in their dressing rooms anticipating a replay at Elland Road a week on Tuesday.
In the Tin Hat social club, home fans shrieked with delight when it was announced that the winners of Kettering v Leeds would play Manchester United in the third round.
“I thought about hanging up my boots because I have a back problem,” said Kettering player manager Lee Harper, who replaced Mark Cooper when the latter departed to become manager of Peterborough three games ago. “But I’ll be walking out on crutches to be there for this replay.
“You can see what it means to fans of this club who don’t want to see it die and if we manage to get past Leeds, it would give us a perfect platform to state our case.”
Harper executed several superb saves, the best from a Michael Doyle header as Leeds mounted unrelenting pressure to salvage a draw.
Jermaine Beckford and Robert Snodgrass both smacked efforts against the woodwork in the first half, but it was Kettering who secured an unlikely lead when Ian Roper headed home Richie Partridge’s free kick. Roper’s effort registered Kettering’s 838th goal in the FA Cup, the most prolific tally of any of the participating clubs.
Kettering’s defence was later undone as Beckford glanced a Snodgrass shot beyond Harper.
Kettering Town v Leeds United: Match report
By Leon Wobschall
A county famous for its shoe industry, Northamptonshire – and it's sole cup representative remaining – threatened to put an embarrassing size 12 boot into United's cup hopes for the second season running.
Thankfully, an express delivery following yet another lightning Whites raid saved the day. And what a prize awaits.
Not surprisingly, it was the predatory feet of Jermaine Beckford that ensured the vast majority of the watching millions didn't start their festive celebrations early – those of a non-Whites persuasion anyway.
Although you sense the Leeds hordes landed the perfect Yuletide gift by way of yesterday's most tantalising of round three draws if they overcome the plucky Poppies in the replay at Elland Road.
Last year, it was a postman who dispatched United from the cup – remember Histon's Matt Langston anyone?
Twelve months on, it was a journeyman pro in the shape of Ian Roper who almost did the same.
The defender – who cut an unassuming bespectacled figure in his civvies after the game – is just the sort of player David-versus-Goliath cup shocks are forged on.
Roper's header in the 63rd-minute put Kettering on the cusp of further cup glory – 12 months on from reaching the fourth round – while United were staring down the barrel of their second-ever FA Cup defeat to non-league opponents.
But United avoided another Histon, thanks to Beckford, although it remains somewhat of a mystery just how they didn't book their round three spot at the first time of asking after having enough chances to win a whole plethora of cup ties. Relief may have been abounding following Beckford's 78th-minute leveller, but also a sense of disbelief that United didn't progress.
Boss Simon Grayson succinctly summed it up afterwards in saying: "We had too many chances to mention; we could be here all night!"
In the cold light of day, if Leeds hadn't booked their place in the round three draw, it would have been the mugging of all time after they created chances by the sack load.
Yes, Grayson could have well done without his troops having yet another game in a bumper December, but it's fair to say they won't need any motivating for the replay back in Yorkshire, with the whopping prize at the end of it in the shape of Manchester United.
With a heavy schedule of three games in six days, Grayson could have been tempted to make wholesale changes, but in the end, was pretty sparing in his tinkering.
The main changes were at the back with a rejigged defence lining up with Patrick Kisnorbo the latest addition to United's injury list after sitting the game out after picking up a knock last Tuesday night, with Andrew Hughes also missing.
Leigh Bromby switched to the heart of defence with Jason Crowe – no stranger to Northamptonshire from his time with the Cobblers – coming in for his first start since October 19 after recovering from a problematic hamstring injury.
Tony Capaldi was handed a debut at left-back in the absence of Hughes, but in the engine room, it was as you were from the Leyton Orient game with the same four deployed.
With Sam Vokes ineligible, Mike Grella – a late scorer in the 2-0 round one win at Oldham – was handed a rare start alongside Beckford, with United also boosted by the inclusion on the bench of fit-again Luciano Becchio.
A familiar face in the Poppies line-up was ex-United striker Anthony Elding, one of four loanees who started for the hosts.Home fans were issued with red cards to show their displeasure in the direction of the town's council – accused of dragging their feet over the club's hopes to move to pastures new – before kick-off.
But after last year's fiasco up the A14 at Histon, United were more preoccupied with not receiving their marching orders from the world's oldest club cup competition from yet another minnow. It was the underdogs who came out of the traps the quicker, with impish winger Richie Partridge showing no lack of confidence following a meandering run which ended in him shooting straight at Ankergren.
Moses Ashikodi then found a yard of space, but his shot was deflected tamely into the grasp of Ankergren, and the Poppies striker then ran at the heart of he United back four before the ball broke invitingly for Partridge, who cross-shot drifted agonisingly wide.
Emboldened by their side's start, the Poppies faithful's spirits rose, before United fired a telling warning.
A sliderule pass found the marauding Beckford in space and after he rounded onrushing keeper Lee Harper, his looped centre found its way to Snodgrass, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Jon Dempster.
Beckford was then cynicially brought down by Dempster, who was cautioned and soon after, the United top gun came desperately close to recording goal no.14 of another bountiful season.
A divine defence-splitting pass from Grella was latched onto by the striker, whose half-volley crashed against the bar and from the follow-up, Snodgrass' rising shot hit the outside of the upright.
Beckford's neat flick then presented a great chance to Grella, but he failed to connect with the outside of his foot when well placed.
Howson then headed wide following a juicy cross from Snodgrass when it looked easier to score as the litany of chances started to stack up before Dempster heroically blocked Grella's beefy volley.
The pattern continued after the break with Snodgrass' low shot held by veteran Harper before a terrific acrobatic clearance from Sol Davis diverted a goalbound effort from the Scot.
Despite being second-best for most of proceedings and struggling to create clear-cut chances, you got the impression that the Poppies might make United pay for their profligacy and every time the men in White missed a chance, the nagging feeling grew.
A rare home foray saw Elding shoot at Ankergren and the visitors were then handed a genuine scare when Simon Heslop steamed into the box before seeing his low effort diverted just wide – and then it happened.
Lubomir Michalik conceded a needless free-kick and the sloppiest of goals saw Roper beat the on-rushing Ankergren to the ball to head home following Partridge's centre.
After a horror-type Histon flashback, United faced a massive character battle as Kettering retreated en masse to try and protect their stunning lead.
Grayson threw on Becchio into the fray on 73 minutes as the Whites set their stall out to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the hosts.It was overtime for the home defence and Harper, who was considering retirement before the game due to the dual demands of playing and management, with a dodgy back adding to his chagrin. Harper pulled off a brilliant reaction save to deny Crowe and then made an even better one to somehow parry Michael Doyle's header from a few yards out. Beckford finally soothed fraying United nerves just when many away fans were contemplating that it just might not be Leeds' day, diverting Snodgrass' centre past Harper.
Doyle then ballooned over and the pressure continued with Howson screwing a shot wide following a magical run, while Heslop headed straight at Ankergren as the hosts claimed the briefest of periods of respite.
Leeds' grandstand finish failed to yield reward and the Poppies were left to revel in the most joyous of replays, which was celebrated with all the gusto of a cup final win at the end.
Times 30/11/09
Jermaine Beckford puts end to heroics from Lee Harper
Kettering Town 1 Leeds United 1
Tom Dart
This was a rousing tie bookended by red cards and Red Devils. Fresh fascination sprouted half an hour after the final whistle when only two balls remained to be scooped from the FA’s goldfish
bowl and those inside the social club attached to Kettering Town’s rusty old main stand yelled with joy at the realisation: Manchester United versus Kettering Town or Leeds United.Let’s not underestimate the importance of that little “or”, because the Coca-Cola League One leaders’ only defeat at Elland Road this season was by Liverpool in the Carling Cup and they were by far the better team here yesterday.
Still, Kettering will now approach the replay with an evangelical zeal. It is not just a big night out but a means to several ends. To add to the thrill and profit in facing the Barclays Premier League champions, there is the potential power of publicity. As they seek a solution to problems that could force the club out of Kettering or out of business, another 90 minutes of fame to spread the word would place extra pressure on Kettering Borough Council, the club’s bête noire.
Hence the red cards — large cardboard ones waggled in the direction of the live television cameras before kick-off as a protest against the council, whom the club blame for scuppering a new stadium project. Kettering’s lease on Rockingham Road runs out in 3½ years and is unlikely to be extended. Imraan Ladak, the chairman, wants urgent action and has outlined doomsday scenarios including a merger with a local rival as soon as next summer.
This match was almost a serious calamity for Leeds, who were 12 minutes from going out of the Cup to a non-League side for the second time in a year. Twelve months ago today, they were knocked out in the second round by Histon, the part-timers from a village near Cambridge. Another debasement was averted when Jermaine Beckford deflected Robert Snodgrass’s low cross past Lee Harper to cancel out the header scored by Ian Roper 15 minutes earlier.
It was just reward for Leeds’s dominance, though Kettering were admirably resilient, especially Harper, their goalkeeper and player-manager. He made two stunning second-half saves from headers by Jason Crowe and Michael Doyle. The 38-year-old was contemplating retirement because of the difficulty in juggling two jobs but the Cup run has encouraged him to play on, despite a back injury.
“I’m sure I can carry on for another month, even if it takes a wheelchair to get me out there,” he said.
Telegraph 29/11/09
Kettering Town 1 Leeds United 1: match report
By David McVay
As a farewell concert, this performance almost brought the house down, an irony that will not be lost on Kettering Town.
Without funding or the backing of the local
council, the Blue Square Premier club’s future is bleak and their Rockingham Road ground is earmarked for demolition. When their lease ends in 2013, the intention is to pull the old place down and build houses on what has been Kettering’s home for over 100 years.Although the lease ends in three years’ time, the club’s chairman Imraan Ladak has said that unless a solution is found in the next six weeks Kettering will face extinction at the end of this season.
Most local fans fear that this plucky draw with League One leaders Leeds United will be the ground’s FA Cup finale after a long and distinguished record in the competition that has seen some of the game’s rich and famous humbled.
If it is to be a swansong there could not be have been a more fitting one that yielded a tantalising twist even as the two teams sat in their dressing rooms anticipating a replay at Elland Road a week on Tuesday.
In the Tin Hat social club, home fans shrieked with delight when it was announced that the winners of Kettering v Leeds would play Manchester United in the third round.
“I thought about hanging up my boots because I have a back problem,” said Kettering player manager Lee Harper, who replaced Mark Cooper when the latter departed to become manager of Peterborough three games ago. “But I’ll be walking out on crutches to be there for this replay.
“You can see what it means to fans of this club who don’t want to see it die and if we manage to get past Leeds, it would give us a perfect platform to state our case.”
Harper executed several superb saves, the best from a Michael Doyle header as Leeds mounted unrelenting pressure to salvage a draw.
Jermaine Beckford and Robert Snodgrass both smacked efforts against the woodwork in the first half, but it was Kettering who secured an unlikely lead when Ian Roper headed home Richie Partridge’s free kick. Roper’s effort registered Kettering’s 838th goal in the FA Cup, the most prolific tally of any of the participating clubs.
Kettering’s defence was later undone as Beckford glanced a Snodgrass shot beyond Harper.