Kettering Town stay in title touch as they squeeze past battling Redditch

Ethereal and sullen skies hung over Latimer Park as an immaculate last post and pause for reflection was observed by the crowd of almost 900.

And they would go on to be royally entertained as the Poppies rode their luck at times before seizing the chance to down Redditch and retain their fourth place in the table.

The visitors were given an early chance to take the lead via the penalty spot when Dan Sweeney was bought down inside the area on four minutes.

He dusted himself off to take the spot kick but Paul White guessed correctly and made the save to his left.

Sweeney was denied minutes later again by the hand of White with Kettering struggling to get going in the first 15 minutes.

The post then came to Kettering’s rescue on 21 minutes when a cross found Danny King, but his toe poke passed a statuesque White before bouncing off the upright to safety.

After weathering further attacks, Kettering took the lead on 35 minutes when a through ball sliced through the Redditch back line to find Blaine Rowe – the defender bolted towards the box and sent the ball nestling into the bottom corner with a finish any striker would be proud of.

Sweeney had yet another chance, this time to level on 40 minutes but his lofted effort over the keeper bounced just wide.

It was 2-0 shortly after the restart when another long ball found Eddie Panter on the left who cut in and fired the ball at Rory Brown but there was enough force to send the ball over the line.

White was at his best to keep out Tyler Bruck on 53 minutes with another instinctive diving save, but he couldn’t do anything about Bruck’s effort on the hour mark when Ismael Fatadjo was caught in possession inside his own half and Redditch surged forward before Bruck rifled home from a tight angle.

The Poppies should have regained their two-goal cushion on 72 minutes, but Tai Flemming’s header from a corner came off the bar.

Redditch offered little in the closing stages as the Poppies saw out the game to remain unbeaten at Latimer Park this season – earning 23 points from the nine league games.

Home comforts will become a distant memory for Kettering though, as six of their next eight fixtures are on the road.

But despite a rapidly shrinking squad and constant outside noise regarding the potential takeover rumbling on, the hard-working Poppies are nicely placed and should fear no side in the league.

Kettering remain seven points adrift of leaders Real Bedford, with a game in hand.

The next challenge takes place on Tuesday evening with a trip to Leicestershire and newly promoted Anstey Nomads (ko 7.45pm).