Kettering Town’s Kelly-Evans Suspended for FA Cup Tie Against Doncaster

Kettering Town midfielder Devon Kelly-Evans is set to miss the club’s televised FA Cup second-round fixture against Doncaster Rovers due to a suspension. Earlier in his career, Kelly-Evans played 15 league games for Coventry City. The 28-year-old received a red card following a scuffle between players at the conclusion of Kettering’s league match against Bedford Town on Saturday. The game ended in a 2-2 draw after Bedford scored a 97th-minute equaliser, but the Poppies still hold a four-point lead in Southern League Premier Central. “It’s absolutely ridiculous, he’s one of my main players,” manager Richard Lavery told BBC Radio Northampton. He added, “He’ll be gutted because it was handbags really. If you’re going to get sent off, get sent off for a reason, not after the game like that. It’s proper petty, isn’t it?” Kelly-Evans played the entire game when Kettering defeated League One neighbours Northampton Town 2-1 in the first round. The draw for round two paired Kettering with Doncaster Rovers in what is expected to be the biggest game staged at 3,000-capacity Latimer Park, the club’s home ground since 2013. Lavery’s side is currently unbeaten in eight games across all competitions, although he remarked that the draw with Bedford, played in front of 2,093 fans, “felt like a loss.” They are scheduled to face Leiston at home on Saturday, which will serve as their final warm-up match before the 1 December lunchtime kick-off. “I’ll approach the cup game after the Leiston game. I’d rather play beforehand. Hopefully we get the crowd down here next week, hopefully take three points, going into the FA Cup the week after,” Lavery further stated.