Late flurry secures big win for Kettering Town at AFC Sudbury

For large parts of the game, the Poppies seemingly had their handbrake on as they failed to threaten hosts Sudbury, who before the game had earned just a single point in their previous ten outings.

Kettering dominated both possession and time in the opposition half, but their attempts to produce a telling opportunity were repelled by a wall of yellow shirts.

The Poppies shook up the shape and personnel from Tuesday's home defeat to Alvechurch, with new loanee signing from Bedford Town, Carl Mensah put straight into the defensive line, allowing captain George Forsyth to move into midfield.

And it was the skipper that created the opening goal.

After a comfortable opening period, Forsyth's through ball took out two Sudbury defenders and found Eddie Panter. The striker took several touches before rounding keeper Liam Coyne and netting into the bottom right corner.

But just as it looked like Kettering would go through the gears, Sudbury were given hope just three minutes later via the penalty spot - Liam Pearce was on hand to send Paul White the wrong way and put the ball into the left corner.

The rest of the first half was played at a very low tempo, with Ben Isaacson's blocked shot from close range on 22 minutes the only other significant action.

Kettering were forced into a change just before half time that introduced Nathan Jeche to the action and the visitors became a different proposition in the second half. But for all of the time on the ball, they couldn't break through.

Jeche's shot from 20 yards out stung the hands of Coyne who palmed the ball away for a corner on 52 minutes.

Forsyth could not head home the resulting corner from just three yards out and when Jeche was kept out again five minutes later, Kettering fans began to fear that it wasn't their day. Panter saw an effort from a wide angle balloon over the bar on 66 minutes and in a rare venture forward, Sudbury also had a shot over the bar.

But the defence was finally breeched on 74 minutes when a bouncing ball in the area fell to Forsyth who fired towards goal and Panter was on hand to deflect the ball into the net.

Pearce dragged a shot wide six minutes later as Sudbury threatened to spoil the Poppies party a second time, but with a renewed freedom, the Poppies added gloss to the scoreline.

Lewis Coyle's corner was turned home by Isaacson's glancing header on 90 minutes for his third goal in four games. Five minutes later Kai Williams was bearing down on goal but could only send his shot into the body of Coyne. However the parried ball fell to Isamael Fatadjo who hammered home with what turned out to be the last kick of the game.

Kettering showed a lot of patience to wear down their hosts and once again they found a way to keep energy levels high when things weren't going their way.

Forsyth in midfield could also turn out to be a masterstroke - giving Liam McDonald the strong body in midfield that has been on the wish list for so long.

In a bizarre situation, the two teams face off again at Latimer Park on Tuesday night - as the three previous attempts to complete the fixture had failed.

Kettering will hope to carry on where they left off and potentially get to within three points of the play-off places.