Match Preview: Kettering Town vs Doncaster Rovers - Sunday 1st December 2024

This Sunday, non-league side Kettering Town come up against Doncaster Rovers in the 2nd round of the FA Cup. Doncaster Rovers enter this game as the heavy favourites, but with the FA Cup, you never know what shocks could be in store…

Last Season’s FA Cup Performance

Last year, Kettering Town only made it to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Kings Lynn Town 6-1. Even if they get knocked out in the second round on Sunday, this years run has been a big improvement, and a huge achievement for a team from the Southern Premier League Central.

In a weird coincidence, Doncaster Rovers also exited last year’s competition at the hands of Kings Lynn Town, losing in the 1st round of the cup.
Form

Kettering Town go into the game unbeaten in their last 5 games; giving them the confidence to cause an FA Cup upset, and extending their unbeaten run.

As for League Two side Doncaster Rovers, they are also unbeaten in their last 5 games. As favourites, they will be expecting to keep this run going. However, they know a trip to Kettering Town will not be an easy game, with their non-league opponents disposing of League One side Northampton Town in the last round.

What to Expect

Doncaster Rovers are flying high in League Two, with promotion to League One the key objective for the season. They sit three tiers above Kettering Town, so quality wise, the expectation is on them to win the game. Kettering Town will be looking to cause another upset, and to put in a performance that will make their noisy home crowd proud.

Kettering Town are top of their league table and look well placed to return to just one league below The National League.

Their squad includes players that have played at a higher level, including ex-Newcastle United striker, Nile Ranger.
Midfield pair Kelly-Evans and Thanoj make the side tick, and the non-league team will be backing themselves to win the match, with the reward of a potential huge tie in the next round.

Under the stewardship of Grant McCann, Doncaster Rovers play an attractive style of football and will look to start the game on the front-foot. However, ‘Rovers’ have struggled of late in front of goal, only scoring two goals in their last three matches, which have all ended in draws. If they are not 100% on their game on Sunday, Kettering Town will be looking to take full advantage.

Doncaster Rovers will be hoping midfielder and top goalscorer, Luke Molyneux, can re-find his early season form. Six goals and four assists is an impressive tally for this stage of the season, but only one of those six strikes has come in the last nine matches.

As is often the case, predictions and form go out of the window in the FA Cup, which is why it is such a special competition.

The BBC cameras will be there on Sunday, with the game free to watch on BBC TWO and BBC iPlayer.
When the cameras are in town, it is often because they smell an upset – tune in to what promises to be a action-packed match.