Home is so sweet for Poppies as they see off Stratford at joyous Latimer Park
Kettering Town delivered the win that home fans had waited 73 days for with a solid 2-0 victory against Stratford Town in the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central on Tuesday night.
There's no place like home, and for the Poppies it could prove the final ingredient as they push for an unlikely play-off charge to bookend a tumultuous season.
And the first half performance alone on Tuesday night should cause teams above Kettering to take notice, as sharp passing, a desire to receive the ball and a boatful of belief is making Liam McDonald's side a very dangerous prospect.
The win over Stratford sees them move up to 11th and to withing seven points of the top five – with games in hand on all of the teams above them.
Kettering had to call on the services of Paul White in goal for the first time since his horrific injury at Royston Town on the opening day of the season.
And quickly the shot-stopper was called into action, palming away Owen James' close range shot on seven minutes.
A minute later and James was kept out again, this time with an even better save from a tighter angle.
But the hosts found their groove after the opening period and when Eddie Panter forced a save low down on 10 minutes, Kettering never looked back.
Kai Williams created so much whilst man of the match Lewis Coyle sent in a number of deliveries which caused problems for the Bards' defence.
On 33 minutes, Stratford were finally breached when an initial shot was half parried by keeper Jake Weaver but Preston Bitemo was on hand to pick up the loose ball and hammer home to score his second in two games.
Moments later, Kettering doubled their lead through Ben Isaacson.
The defender flicking the ball on brilliantly before drilling the ball low into the corner beyond Weaver. By now Kettering were in total control and they saw out the first half with relative ease.
Stratford did hit back with a strong opening to the second half with Dan Lafferty sending a header goalwards after colliding with White, but the ball was hacked clear.
Will van Lier and Blaine Rowe both had efforts from distance well saved as Kettering looked for a third but Stratford played well enough to not completely fold.
White was called into action a further time on 74 minutes when the ball needed to be cleared off the line again, this time by Isaacson, but that was the last of the real danger which Kettering faced.
McDonald even allowed himself the luxury of squad rotation, making a number of changes in the final stages with a hectic schedule bearing down on the Poppies.
Should Kettering continue this form and the entertainment factor, then Latimer Park will be rocking again very soon!
Bromsgrove Sporting are the visitors on Saturday (ko 3pm).