FA Cup | Second Round

Dec 1, 2024 at 12pm UK

Latimer Park

Kettering vs Doncaster

Match preview

Kettering Town are back in the FA Cup on Sunday, hoping to keep their winning streak going and reach the third round for the first time since 2009. They last made it this far the following season, but were beaten by Leeds United.

The seventh-tier team had to get through four rounds of qualifying to reach the first round in November. They beat Stafford Rangers, Cleethorpes Town and St Ives Town first, then Farsley Celtic in the National League North. They won 2-1 away thanks to Isiah Noel-Williams's late goal.

That set up a trip to Northampton Town in early November, and Richard Lavery's side advanced again with a historic upset. They forced extra time with a 1-1 draw thanks to Luca Miller's leveller before Nile Ranger netted the decisive goal at Sixfields early in the additional 30 minutes.

This is the latest in a series of impressive wins for the Northamptonshire team, who have now won 13 of their last 15 games in all competitions. They are currently top of the Southern League Premier Central, having most recently beaten Leiston 2-1 on Saturday with Jonny Edwards and Ranger on the scoresheet.

With their performance getting better and better, Kettering Town will try to build on their impressive cup run by beating another strong team and securing a spot in the third round.

They've got another tricky test coming up, though. The visitors are travelling south, aiming to extend their six-match unbeaten streak and add to their strong start to the League Two campaign with a third-round appearance.

Doncaster Rovers' last successful FA Cup run was in the 2020-21 season. Since then, they've been unable to progress through this stage on three occasions, most recently losing in the second round to Peterborough United last year.

Their latest attempt began with a match against Barrow, a team in the same fourth tier. Grant McCann's team won 1-0, with Patrick Kelly scoring the only goal seven minutes before the end.

Since then, the Yorkshire side have played out three consecutive draws, sitting fourth in League Two. Most recently, they drew 0-0 away at Carlisle United. They're only behind the automatic promotion spots on goal difference.

Doncaster Rovers will now try to keep their unbeaten streak going and get back to winning ways to keep moving forward in the FA Cup. They'll be back in league action away at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday.

Recent Performance

Kettering Town FA Cup form:WWWWW

Kettering Town form (all competitions):WWWWDW

Doncaster Rovers FA Cup form:W

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):WWWDDD

Team News

Kettering should field a similar starting XI from their first-round victory over Northampton Town. Nile Ranger is likely to lead the line again, having scored the winning goal and also got on the scoresheet in the weekend's win over Leiston.

Luca Miller will be hoping to get a start in midfield after coming off the bench to score the equaliser, but Andi Thanoj should keep his place in the engine room while Jonny Edwards will continue to support the lone front man.

Defender Lewis White was out of action against Leiston, so it looks like Harlain Mbayo will be back in the middle of the back four with captain Connor Johnson.

Grant McCann is likely to field a strong Doncaster Rovers starting XI, with a third-round place on the line. However, Joe Sbarra is unlikely to play after his substitute appearance was cut short against Carlisle last time out.

He'll be joining Richard Wood in the treatment room, while defender Jay McGrath will be able to play despite being sent off last time out in League Two. He could line up in a back three with Joseph Olowu and Joel Senior again.

George Broadbent and Patrick Kelly will be competing to join Owen Bailey in the midfield, while Joe Ironside and veteran Billy Sharp will both be hoping to lead the line with support from wingers Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson.

Possible starting lineup

Kettering Town possible starting lineup:

Jezeph; Hart, Mbayo, Johnson, Powell; Stohrer, Thanoj; Wilson, Edwards, York; Ranger

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Sharman-Lowe; Olowu, McGrath, Senior; Sterry, Broadbent, Bailey, Maxwell; Gibson, Ironside, Molyneux