Boss McDonald beaming as Poppies secure statement success at high-flying Needham

Kettering Town boss Liam McDonald was beaming after watching his side secure an impressive 3-1 win at Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central play-off chasers Needham Market on Saturday.

The Poppies were 2-1 up at half-time thanks to goals from Wes York and Eddie Panter, their goals sandwiching a penalty from the home side's Luke Ingram.

Kettering then dug deep and defended resolutely to hold on to their lead in the second half, before sealing the deal with an excellent solo effort from Nathan Jeche eight minutes into stoppage time.

The win was a second in a row on the road, following the win at Bishop's Stortford a week earlier, and sees the Poppies sitting 12th in the table, seven points off the play-off places.

"Tactically I thought we were fantastic, and I have said that to the players, but we worked on it all week," said McDonald. "We had 17 cup finals to play, and now we have 16.

"I said to the boys, we played a shape against Bishop's Stortford and beat them, and we talked about changing shape again for the Needham game, and focusing on what Needham are good at.

"It was such a good performance, and in the first half I thought we were brilliant, and then it goes to 1-1 with the penalty and I am thinking 'how are we going to react?'.

"Eddie has been fantastic since he came into the football club and the reason I wanted to sign him is because he can do that, he has dribbled from the halfway line and has put the ball in the net.

"We then needed to make sure we went out in the second half and were focused, but for 10 minutes we weren't and we made some sloppy decisions, but this is the best performance since I have been at the club.

"I know we beat Stourbridge by five and we have had some really good home games, but our defensive qualities were so good on Saturday, and we were happy defending.

"I said at half time that we will have to dig in and sit in, they will put crosses into the box but we will have too many bodies in there.

"Jay (Jason Alexander) will have to make some sort of save somewhere down the line, but we will hit them on the counter and then Nath has come on, and that is a great finish. He has been electric in training, and he put the ball in the net, it's 3-1."

A win would have seen Needham draw level with fifth-placed Halesowen, but they stayed seventh and McDonald was pleased with such a statement success against a side that won 1-0 at Latimer Park back in November.

"I wasn't here when we played them at home, it was the week before I came, and by all accounts we didn't lay a glove on them, and I said to the lads 'look how far we've come'," said the Poppies boss.

"Needham is a team that is trying to get into the play-offs, but we have defended well and then hurt them when we needed to."

The Poppies were backed by a strong and vocal following in Suffolk, and McDonald said: "The fans were fantastic, and I think we had more at the game than Needham did.

"I don't know if they are thinking if we still have anything to play for, but we are trying, we are trying to give them hope.

"We wanted to go to Needham and get a point, and we have turned it into three which is fantastic."

The Poppies now have another free midweek before they are due to entertain Redditch United on Saturday - having not played at Latimer Park since way back on December 20.

Quotes courtesy of Peter Short