FLASHBACK to KETTERING TOWN v STALYBRIDGE CELTIC in January 2008...

After speaking to several Kettering fans at the play-off final recently, I looked back at my only visit to the Poppies' old stadium: Rockingham Road...

A relative, Steve Burr, took his Stalybridge team to Kettering and won by a single goal, the score by which Celtic lost the play-off final that season against Barrow @ Burton Albion's ground...

Resurrected James Dean Lifts The Kettering Gloom

Kettering 0 Stalybridge 1

The introduction of Roca and Dean rewarded Steve Burr as the diminutive and enigmatic Roca fed Dean on a late break and despite two supporting runners, the substitute rammed the Celtic winner from an acute angle and the handful of drenched visiting supporters celebrated with glee, as Burr, other players and backroom staff danced Celtic jigs near their dugout. Both teams went close to scoring in a somewhat dour spectacle, although Gamble was called into action more times than Town ‘keeper Harper. Despite such an early injury to key defender Payne, replacement Burke was a Trojan and alongside him, Sykes was a stalwart, consistently commanding a stubborn Celtic defence with a succession of headers and timely tackles. Two periods of relentless attacking by the Poppies were thwarted and despite the tiring legs of Winn and Barwick in midfield, the visitors maybe just deserved the hard fought victory.

Celtic were not shy to attack league-leaders Kettering; Hall and Ellington were supported wide by Meechan, whose quick feet balanced his lack of physical strength, and Barlow, who again, I felt had so much more to contribute. Thus Barwick and Winn were expected to get through a tremendous amount of running across the centre of the field and their fatigue led to several losses of possession during the latter stages of the second-half. Winn surprised Kettering early on with a 22 yard left-footer, which just cleared Harper’s crossbar, following Ellington’s service. After Barwick was dispossessed, Marna fed Bridges at the edge of the Celtic penalty-box but a scuffed shot was easily dealt with by the visitors. Gamble was fortunate moments later when he appeared to hesitate at the near post with Wooliscroft, as a decent right-wing centre from Marna caused more danger but the lively Beardsley’s touch was deflected ludicrously up onto the crossbar and the ball was gratefully cleared.

Barwick’s rather wild challenge, although to be fair, he may have slipped, led to another effort at goal by Winn but Harper wasn’t troubled. Smart’s awkward left-wing centre did cause some consternation however, as it rattled against the outside of the near post, with Harper scrambling frantically to cover. In a strong period for Celtic, not in awe of their opponents, Hall missed the first of three first-half chances, which fortunately he was not to rue. He headed Barwick’s right-wing cross disappointingly past the far post and yet that opportunity could have been costly when Burke passed back to Gamble, whose kick to Wooliscroft was unwise and then nearly fatal as the full-back turned the ball back towards his goalie, not realising that Marna’s withdrawal was slow and the Town man was presented with a great chance to open the scoring. Marna cut inside but Gamble was quick to react and saved to his left, superbly.

Celtic took the game to Kettering and Meechan had an effort blocked after Smart’s rising free-kick lifted well off target. Barwick’s exuberant tackling earned him a caution when the drifting Marna was felled and Bridges nearly capitalised on Mills’ right-wing free-kick. Hall then benefited from a deflection to run clear but Harper was quickly off his goal-line to save at the striker’s feet and in the tumble, defender Graham was injured and did not reappear after the interval. Wooliscroft then turned inside to deliver a fine left-footed centre from the right but the quiet Ellington mistimed his header and indeed barely connected with the ball at all. Jaszczun laid back the ball for Marna, following a set-piece and Gamble dived left to clutch a really well-struck left-footer from 25 yards but Celtic fought back as the half expired, Winn’s dipping 23 yarder being saved and Hall, inexplicably missing a simple chance from Winn’s service near the right post, as if someone had tied his bootlaces together…

The half had been well contested and the emerging character was Sykes. Winn had faded slightly during the final ten minutes, Barwick needed to curb his enthusiasm, following his booking but Burke’s solidarity had made life tough for Kettering’s in-form striker Beardsley.

Burke failed to get an early header on target as the second-half became increasingly damp, Marna shrugged off Barlow and beat Wooliscroft on the left but misguidedly centred straight to Gamble with his right foot and really, after that, the game was trench warfare in midfield, with neither team gaining the ascendancy and Sykes and Burke defending grimly but very successfully.

Eventually the changes were made and Barlow was withdrawn, along with Ellington. Finally, the game flared from the battle of attrition and Westcarr, who really ought to have been more of a factor for the Poppies, beat Smart on the right but fired his shot across Gamble and beyond the far post.

Celtic were coping well and Roca’s elusiveness flattered to deceive at times but from a right-wing corner, Celtic panicked as the ball was not cleared and Gamble reacted well in a crowded penalty-box to parry Kemp’s drive. Town saw Burke head clear and Westcarr’s shot curl well wide before Roca suddenly broke from his own half of the field. Winn made ground centrally and Hall was there too but Dean, who had worked hard previously, ran left and Roca cleverly switched the play to him. Only Jaszczun was defending and all Dean had to do was carry the ball and serve it across the goalmouth for one of his two colleagues. He didn’t… In front of the travelling fans, he unleashed a right-foot shot into the roof of the net as Harper flailed and the crazy celebrations began…

Hall fed Roca for a shot, which was deflected too high and from Roca’s corner, Winn’s volley was well blocked, er, by Hall… Kettering battled to the end and Gamble collected the ball after a couple of bobbing headers but Brady’s late attempt lacked venom and Celtic held on without too much concern. The feelings ran high as Celtic realised the importance of the victory. The loss of Payne saw Burke perform powerfully and Sykes played like a true skipper in a team, which fought tigerishly in midfield and was always a threat on the break. A Bullseye for Sykes and three points for Stalybridge…

My son, aged 17, with his usual beaming smile...