Harborough Town 2 (Stephens 28’,40’)
Kettering Town 1 (Fifield 39’)
2025 started with a bang for Harborough Town as two Ben Stephens strikes saw the Bees defeat top of the table Kettering Town to propel themselves into mid-table.
The visitors started brightly and enjoyed the first chance of the game through Callum Powell, whose shot fell just wide of the mark after smart work from Kai Fifield. Harborough grew into proceedings, with Stephens threatening in behind the defence, but it was a mazy run from Alex Morris that set up the first goalscoring opportunity for the hosts as Luis Rose shot on goal after connecting with the defender’s low ball, only for Dan Jezeph to claim following a deflection on its way through. Rose then forced Jezeph into a smart save with his feet after being released by a perfectly placed Riley O’Sullivan through-ball, before Freddie Robinson’s header from the resulting corner was collected by the Poppies’ shot-stopper as the Bees piled on the pressure. The pressure finally told with just under half an hour played as Stephens, fresh from seeing his shot from the angle tipped around the near post, won the ball on the shoulder after closing down a Lewis White clearance and slotted the ball past an onrushing Jezeph to give his side a deserved lead. Looking to find an avenue back into the game, a smart one two between Devon Kelly-Evans and Nile Ranger nearly resulted in a shooting opportunity at the far post for Powell, but Elliott Taylor was quick off his line to foil the league leaders. There was not a lot that Taylor could do to foil Fifield soon after however, as the Kettering forward expertly curled his effort into the top corner in front of the travelling support to level the score. Before the jubilation concluded in the away end, Stephens was wheeling away in celebration once more as within seconds of the restart, the attacker, ran on to a Morris clearance and lifted the ball over Jezeph and into the back of the net in what was an instant reply from the hosts before the break.
As the wind picked up and the rain came down in the second half, Kettering looked for their second equaliser of the game and a Morris header off the line denied Terell Pennants’ guided effort from bulging the back of the net early on. Fifield then was unable to replicate his first half finish as his driven shot flashed across the goal, but it was Harborough who would enjoy the next golden opportunity, with Rose’s strike whistling just wide of the post from the centre of the area. O’Sullivan came within inches of giving his side a healthy buffer following a brilliant run from substitute Jutorre Burgess but his shot narrowly missed the mark as the hosts looked to hit Kettering on the break. Kettering had the majority of the ball in the closing stages but the Bees stood firm and kept their neighbours at arm’s length to stifle any late chances and secure a big three points to start the new year.
MOTM sponsored by MOTM Sponsor DS Ronald Builders: Alex Morris (HTFC)
MOTM appointed by Match Sponsor ‘Non-League Volunteers’: Ben Stephens (HTFC)
Match Rating: 4*
Report: Cristian Bratu
Photo: RB Media