Boss McDonald admits Poppies 'just didn't turn up' in play-off semi-final defeat

The Poppies were on the back foot from the off as the home side raced into the lead after just 12 seconds, with goalkeeper Paul White then producing a string o saves to keep the score down to 1-0 at half-time.

Real extended their lead through Conor Tee four minutes into the second half, and although Eddie Panter pulled one back on 68 minutes to give the 600 travelling supporters hope, the home side sealed the win with a Sam Cartwright goal 15 minutes from time.

It means Kettering's campaign is over, and they will once again be playing at Step 3 next season, with Real Bedford going on to play Spalding United in Monday's play-off final.

The result and performance were a big disappointment for McDonald, and he felt his team simply didn't perform on the big occasion.

"It wasn't meant to be," said the Poppies boss. "It's our last game of the season, we're out of the play-offs, and it was unbelievable that we got there.

"We just haven't performed against Real Bedford, and this isn't the time to start pointing out individuals, I just think as a collective we just didn't turn up.

"Within 12 seconds we are a goal down, and that is so unlike us.

"Some of them haven't played in the play-offs, and this is such a pressurised game.

"The best team won for sure, and I am just disappointed."

The defeat was a real downer following the efforts made by Kettering to finish fourth in the league and qualify for the play-offs.

A run of 14 wins and two draws in the final 18 matches of the regular season saw the Poppies climb from the bottom half of the table to their lofty finish, and McDonald felt that momentous effort over the course of three months may have caught up with his team.

"We had 18 games to try and get in the play-offs and we got there, and in the first half we looked dead on our feet," he said.

"We tried to mix it up, and for as much as Real Bedford opened us up time and time again, the goals were poor ones to concede from us.

"They didn't have to work for them, and we are disappointed with that.

"But it is a learning curve for some of the players, because it is a young side.

"We do have experience dotted around, but it has been a gruelling 18 games, they were all must-win and there has been pressure all the time.

"And in the big one we have fell short, because we weren't good enough.

"We as a football club we know we are not the best team, but we found something, with the fans and we had a bond and that has carried us through.

"But on Wednesday the quality was lacking, and that is something I will make sure we can improve on."

Quotes courtesy of Peter Short