Oxford so frustrated as Poppies do the job
Kettering Town's brilliant away record is never going to make them popular visitors to any ground in the Blue Square Premier.
And it was no different at the Kassam Stadium as the Poppies gained a valuable point while leaving Oxford United thoroughly frustrated.
Lee Harper's men turned in a routine performance on the road.
It was full of grit, determination and a touch of gamesmanship as they well and truly got in the faces of Chris Wilder's title-chasing side – much to the annoyance of an expectant home crowd.
There clearly must have been a hope from the Oxford fans that Kettering would simply turn up and surrender their proud away record.
But they didn't get it their way as the Poppies sealed a thoroughly-deserved point which has put the fate of the title firmly in the hands of Stevenage Borough. And Oxford didn't like it, not one bit.
The main reason for another fine away-day was, not for the first time, a superb defensive effort.
Full-backs Greg Taylor and James Jennings played key roles but yet again it was the centre-halves who stood out.
Off-the-field, skipper Ian Roper looks like the sort of man who wouldn't hurt a fly. But give him a pair of boots and a red shirt and a monster is unleashed.
He was magnificent right up until the moment he was forced off through injury in stoppage-time after a nasty lunge from John Grant.
And next to him is John Dempster, another aggressive defender who has that bit of class to go with it.
The pair have been good this season but they took it to a new level on this occasion as they headed every ball and went in hard in those who dared to wear a yellow shirt.
In truth, it wasn't much of a game and it seemed that was exactly what Kettering wanted.
The only time their defences were breached was on 36 minutes when former Poppy Francis Green clipped the ball past Nathan Abbey after Andre Boucaud had conceded possession in midfield.
The home fans must have thought they were heading back to the top. But Kettering had other ideas as they levelled before the break.
Marcus Kelly was the provider from a flag-kick and James Dance planted an excellent header into the top corner.
The second period was tight and niggly but with very few chances at either end.
Kelly came closest when he forced Ryan Clarke into a messy save from 25 yards while Taylor was spared a red card as he hauled Grant down in the penalty area – the striker had already been flagged for offside.
Frustrations boiled over on the touchline as Harper and home coach Micky Lewis exchanged words.
But the Poppies boss wouldn't have minded too much. The fact that Oxford were annoyed meant it was job done.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
