Back-to-back road trip wins for Poppies as Needham Market are beaten on own patch

The Poppies team bus has been very busy of late, with Kettering having exclusively played away from Latimer Park for the past six weeks!

But the journeys home have become much more enjoyable after two dogged wins that also indicate that this remodelled squad is starting to gel.

Bloomfields has never been a happy hunting ground for Ketteringm but past results were quickly forgotten when Wes York opened the scoring after just nine minutes.

Lewis Coyle initially received the ball on the left before unleashing a thunderous shot that was well blocked by James Bradbrook in the Needham goal. But York was on hand to thump home the rebound from just outside the area with Bradbrook stranded on the surface.

Levi Andoh had a chance to double the lead just minutes late when the box was full of bodies but his effort from a tight angle couldn't sneek through.

While looking comfortable, Kettering inexplicably gifted their hosts a way back into the game on 19 minutes.

Myles Cowling received the ball with his back to goal inside the area but before he could turn, captain George Forsyth dived in wrecklessly giving referee Craig Charles no choice but to award the penalty.

After waiting an age, Jason Alexander finally dived the right way but the 6ft 6in keeper was unable to keep out Luke Ingram's perfectly taken spot kick.

The setback didn't deter the Poppies who retook the lead on 28 minutes thanks to fans favourite Eddie Panter.

A through ball from inside the Kettering half released Panter on the halfway line. His pace was far too much for the chasing Dan Morphew who could only watch as Panter slid the ball under the onrushing Bradbrook and into the net.

Needham ended the half with two excellent chances and should have been level at half time. Two dangerous crosses were kept out by Ben Issacson and Forsyth earlier in the game but a third that was whipped in from the left found Jamie Mauge all alone 10 yards out but his header went agonisingly over the bar.

Moments later Cowling poked a shot towards the near post which needed Alexander to scramble to the right and keep the ball out via the inside of the post.

After such a blood and thunder first half, the second was understandably a lot more measured with Needham producing much the better chances - Kettering unable to send another effort on target for the duration of the half.

Luke Ingram dragged a dangerous free kick from 20 yards out wide of the post on 57 minutes. Alexander needed to be alert three minutes later to thwart Max Appauh who was bearing down on goal but the Kettering keeper was able to collect on the edge of the area.

With 20 minutes remaining the match was played soley in Kettering's final third with no real outlet for the visitor's to utilise, whilst cross after cross needed to be dealt with.

Top scorer for the Marketmen, Joe Neal, was brilliantly denied by Alexander on 75 minutes who tipped a tight angled shot away from danger.

Appauh saw another close range effort kept off the line on 84 minutes as the Poppies continued to hang on by their fingertips.

Even the introduction of recent signing Nathan Jeche appeared to have no effect with the striker struggling to provide any respite for the defence as yet another low shot on target, this time from Fabien Claxton, was turned off the line on 88 minutes.

Nine minutes of stopapge time was shown on the board and anyone of the Kettering persaution feared the worst having seen this story time and again.

But this time it had a happy ending when, four minutes into stoppage time Jeche found space on the right to launch up field from the halfway line.

Instead of taking the ball to the corner, he cut inside Claxton and placed a perfect shot beyond the left hand of Bradbrook to seal the win.

At full time Liam McDonald hailed it as Kettering's best performance since arriving at the club - if only home supporters were able to witness the improvement in performance?

Fingers and toes will be crossed that Saturday's visit of McDonald's former side Redditch United will go ahead.