Gyasi on the spot as unconvincing Kettering Town maintain unbeaten start

You would never tell from the sour atmosphere at Latimer Park or the quality of performances on show, that the Poppies have had their best start to a campaign since 2018 and are still unbeaten after seven league and two cup matches.

Caveat that with the fact that they have played all four sides currently sat in the drop zone, but the dour and sometimes uninspiring showing isn't doing much to lift the fanbase.

There is certainly effort there - led as always by Eddie Panter's insatiable desire to run for anything that moves, while Lawson D'Ath is a brilliant leader and has given much needed maturity to the squad.

Perhaps Kettering now have too many options up front with Gyasi, Theo Alexandrou and Amir Hadi seemingly tripping over one another vying for the ball.

It could also be the not unusual phenomenon that Kettering at Latimer Park is still a tough away day, and opposition are happy to sit back and frustrate to leave with a point - a back handed compliment if ever there was one.

Kettering did hit their straps quickly with two early efforts - Ryan Haynes' free kick went narrowly wide after just three minutes whilst Panter unleashed from distance a minute later, with the ball again only just the wrong side of the woodwork.

Neither side retained the ball particularly well but it was the hosts who always looked the more likely to open the scoring. Panter should have received a penalty on 13 minutes after turning his man inside out to get to the right side of the ball before being hauled down but no decisions was given.

However referee Ben Schofield did point to the spot seven minutes later when Bedford loanee Gyasi launched into the area before being brought down by Jake Weaver.

The striker dusted himself off to send Weaver the wrong way from the spot kick.

Stratford's best chance of the half came from a Jack Bearn ball that flashed across goal but crucially for Kettering it was behind the waiting Owen James was unable to latch on.

Kettering huffed and puffed to try and find a second goal but created very little.

Panter did put the ball in the net after finishing off the best move of the game - Haynes to D'Ath who played through Panter but the flag was raised just as the striker applied the neat finish under Weaver.

The hosts should have been two to the good on 51 minutes, Panter against released on the right and was bearing down on the right side of goal but could only fire his shot into the side netting.

At the other end, Reece Flanagan had Paul White at full stretch the keep the ball out on the hour mark with his free kick from 20 yards out.

Twice the Poppies had chances to be one on one with the Stratford keeper but the ball either stuck in the long Latimer Park turf, or in the second attempt, Panter, Alexandrou and substitute Shaun Jeffers chased the same loose ball and couldn't coordinate in a case of 'after you sir'.

The Bards to their credit hung in there and for the final 15 minutes had chances to steal a point.

Kory Roberts tried an audacious bicycle kick on 84 minutes whilst skipper Paul McCone thought he has salvaged a point with his header two minutes into stoppage time, but a late linesman's flag saved Kettering's blushes.

Kettering spring back into action on Tuesday as they take on Peterborough Sports in the Northants Senior Cup.

It will be a great chance for the likes of Will van Lier and Lewis Coyle to prove their return to fitness.

Both have plenty to add to the squad and will be gratefully welcomed back before another crucial cup tie - Quorn at Latimer Park in the FA Cup on Saturday.