Hat-trick hero Panter relieved as he gets back on the goal trail for Kettering Town

The Poppies, who were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at nine-man Hitchin Town on Saturday, rediscovered their shooting boots against struggling Stamford, who have now lost six out of six in the league.

Panter got things moving for the Poppies with a 20th-minute opener, and he added his and the team's second on 57 minutes - when the floodgates opened.

Michael Gyasi made it 3-0 just before the hour, before Panter completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time and Shaun Jeffers made it 5-0 two minutes later.

The win sees the unbeaten Poppies sitting fifth in the Premier Central table, having won three and draw three, and they are six points adrift of top two Real Bedford and Bury Town, who can both still boast 100 per cent records.

The goals against Stamford were Panter's first since the opening day of the season on August 8, and he is now hoping to 'kick on' and start hitting the target on a more regular basis.

Asked about how he felt after his hat-trick, Panter said: "I am very pleased after the start I've had personally.

"I think as a team we have a lot more to give than what we have shown, but it is a fairly new squad so we've got to have time to click.

"But on Monday we really turned the screw and hopefully we can go on from that now.

"We changed shape and I think that benefitted us, because we were playing wide and we weren't getting into good enough areas.

"So we played with two behind me on Monday and I think it helped us a lot, and bringing in Rowey (Blaine Rowe) and Powelly (Aaron Powell), I think both did really well.

"So the change in formation and personnel did help us."

The one slight downer for Panter is that he had chances to score even more, but he admitted: "I will take the three.

"I have been a bit annoyed with myself for how I have started the season, but this puts that behind me and hopefully I can kick on from now."

The Poppies take their first break from league action this Saturday when they make the very short trip to Wellingborough Town for a tasty looking Northants derby in the Emirates FA Cup.

A former Doughboys player, Panter knows more than most what lies in store for Step 3 Kettering when they head to their Step 4 hosts, and he is expecting a testing afternoon.

"We will treat it as we would any normal game," said Panter.

"I know the lads quite well because I was there a couple of years ago, so I know the manager Jake (Stone) quite well and I know they will be well up for it.

"But we will be ready. It's a local derby so we will be up for it as much as they will be."

Interview by Peter Short