Kettering 2 Fulham 4: Blue Square Premier outfit Kettering count cost of a card

26 January 2009 02:15
Kettering felt Fuham's Brede Hangeland should have been sent off for his foul on Craig Westcarr Riley had awarded a penalty when Brede Hangeland dragged Craig Westcarr down in the 82nd minute but the Fulham defender escaped with a booking as Westcarr scored from the spot to make it 2-2. 'I don't mean to sound negative but everyone knows that's a penalty and a red card,' said Ladak. 'He's the last man. It's unfortunate that the game has swung on the referee's decision. 'Setanta would have put the replay on TV, that's£80,000, plus the game, which would have been about£120,000, and you never know what else. 'We could have put it towards our new stadium which we desperately need. We could have added a few more players to help us towards the play-offs. We could have extended our lease on the ground. But you can't go on about what you've lost. We've gained so much. I'm trying not to be too negative.' Kettering, back to reality against Stevenage on Tuesday, have banked about£100,000 by reaching the fourth round and this tie proved the essence of the FA Cup. Craig Westcarr celebrates scoring his second goal from the penalty spot Curious home fans engulfed the Fulham team bus as it arrived. 'Don't they look miserable,' said one as familiar faces filed into the ground, eyes down, earplugs in. It was not half as miserable as they looked before Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora grabbed the late goals which spared their embarrassment. Simon Davies had volleyed Fulham ahead but Mark Cooper's team from the Blue Square Premier, 92 places below Fulham, hit back. Westcarr's deflected free-kick levelled and Gareth Seddon, John Dempster and Westcarr wasted chances after the break. Mark Schwarzer saved brilliantly to prevent a Hangeland own goal, and the keeper fielded a barrage of huge throws from giant centre half Exodus Geohaghon. Danny Murphy restored Fulham's lead, then Westcarr's penalty seemed to have secured a replay until Kettering wilted. Ladak said: 'It shows what a terrible mistake ITV made and what idiots they are. They didn't want to put this on TV and they got what they deserved. They missed out on the game of the season.' Kettering players look dejected after dramatically losing out to Fulham at Rockingham Road Despite the result, it was an occasion for the club to savour with Ron Atkinson, Kettering boss in the early Seventies and director of football last year, bringing a sun-kissed glow to the stands. Manager Cooper was supported by his father, former Leeds and England full back Terry, who had flown in from his Tenerife home to find there were no spare seats and squeezed into the dugout with his son. Visiting manager Roy Hodgson congratulated Kettering's players after the game and Fulham's stars swapped and signed shirts in the cramped corridors outside the dressing rooms. Keeper Lee Harper clutched Schwarzer's top and a marker pen as he waited for the Aussie, wondering aloud what he might have done better to stop the third goal. It was one error to mar an excellent display but at least he had a souvenir. Westcarr said: 'I was going to swap with Andy Johnson but I didn't know we were allowed. I thought, knowing my luck, it'll be taken out of my wages.'  

Source: Daily_Mail