Easy does it as Kettering Town see off Bishop's Stortford to claim first win of 2026

It was a much needed, feel-good win for the club and fans alike, as the Poppies picked up their first win in over a month having endured a torrid festive period of defeats, matches called off and the state of finances being called into the question.

However, the win was arguably gifted to them, with a single clumsy tackle on 21 minutes turning the match in the visitors’ favour - Bishop's Stortford reduced to 10 men and Kettering were able to take the lead and never look back.

Kettering are still without height and power upfront, leaving them with no option but to send Wes York and Eddie Panter up the field as their attacking outlets.

For all of the huff and puff, the Poppies were unable to mount a shot on target in the opening period.

Returning Lewis Coyle put in a brave block to keep Charlie Castle's shot away from goal on nine minutes the only threatening moment of the first 20 minutes.

But Kettering continued to probe and a through ball from Alfie Lewis towards Panter unlocked the Blues defence.

Panter was brought down on the edge of the area but not before sending the ball trickling into the path of York, who rounded keeper Adam Hayton.

Before he could place the ball into the back of the empty net was hacked down by Charlie Johnson - and referee Liam Giles did not hesitate in showing the Stortford defender a straight red card.

Will Glennon took the ball from the waiting Panter and ignored the timewasting tactics of Hayton to calmly slot the ball low into the bottom corner and score his second goal from the penalty spot in as many games.

The Poppies enjoyed the majority of possession from that moment on but still looked very one dimensional - being reduced to a few shots wide of target or delivering crosses that were easy for Hayton to claim.

The Poppies did not get another shot on target in the first half whilst the hosts rarely ventured into Kettering's final third.

A second goal would settle nerves and it came just three minutes after the restart.

Lewis Coyle's swirling cross from the left-hand side caught Hayton in no man’s land and Panter was all alone to use the pace of the cross and guide it beyond the outstretched hand of the Bishop's Stortford keeper.

From there, Kettering showed excellent game management to see out the final 40 minutes.

York sent a stinging shot goalwards from outside the area on 59 minutes but Hayton saved brilliantly to hit right.

Panter then did put the ball into the net for a third time minutes later but the flag was raised on the far side with the striker adjudged to have been offside.

Kai Williams showed his attacking threat late on with both the crossbar and post coming to the Blues’ aid from back-to-back efforts to the right of goal.

New signing Nathan Jeche was given a brief run out, but rarely in such comfortable games do you get to see a player’s ability so fans will have to wait a little longer to see if he fits the bill.

However, Ryan Inman’s debut was just what the doctor ordered.

He was no-nonsense, won a number of second balls and was able to get the ball out wide quickly towards Kettering’s main threats.

‘We have 17 more cup finals’ were Liam McDonald’s words at full time.

An assault on the playoff places from 12th in the table has happened before, but on this showing Kettering need to remain humble and quietly reset whilst under the radar.