League

Folkestone
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Zikora Bazunu got the match started through his kick off. Alaba Nwosu's late challenge caught a Kettering's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alaba Nwosu helped the player get up and apologised. In the 3rd minute, Alaba Nwosu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Folkestone United's zone, Chinagorom Adeyinka stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wasiu Okpanachi came out of the goal and Chinagorom Adeyinka tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Onyewuchi Habu in the 8th minute of play forced Folkestone United's goalkeeper Wasiu Okpanachi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Iloabuchi Dandaraman made an important save on a dangerous shot by Zerenjo Akaruye in the 16th minute. Zerenjo Akaruye sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 21st minute, Chinagorom Adeyinka managed to get in a good position for a shot. Kettering's supporters rose to their feet, but Chinagorom Adeyinka was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Wasiu Okpanachi breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Zina Iriah kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. Zerenjo Akaruye sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Wasiu Okpanachi stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Chinagorom Adeyinka's shot from short distance in the 30th minute. After having played for 35 minutes, Zerenjo Akaruye managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Folkestone United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Zerenjo Akaruye was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Kettering's zone, Zikora Bazunu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Iloabuchi Dandaraman came out of the goal and Zikora Bazunu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Wasiu Okpanachi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Onyewuchi Habu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Zerenjo Akaruye got free with Iloabuchi Dandaraman in the 44th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Onyewuchi Habu was the one to do the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 55th minute, Zerenjo Akaruye managed to get in a good position for a shot. Folkestone United's supporters rose to their feet, but Zerenjo Akaruye was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Iloabuchi Dandaraman breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, Kettering's Okolocha Felix Awu got a free kick in the 56th minute. Zerenjo Akaruye received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Iloabuchi Dandaraman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 62nd minute, Zerenjo Akaruye got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zikora Bazunu in the 64th minute of play forced Kettering's goalkeeper Iloabuchi Dandaraman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Wasiu Okpanachi made an important save on a dangerous shot by Chinagorom Adeyinka in the 66th minute. Zerenjo Akaruye sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Folkestone United's zone, Onyewuchi Habu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Wasiu Okpanachi came out of the goal and Onyewuchi Habu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ettah Ladipo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 83rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 89 played minutes Folkestone United got a freekick which was hit by Ettah Ladipo. If Zerenjo Akaruye had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Kettering's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.