Latimer Park agony as Poppies throw away late lead against 10-man Stamford

What made the result even more galling was that the Poppies should have been out of sight, but butchered a number of chances.

They were also unable to take advantage of Stamford losing keeper Tommy Jackson with nearly a third of the match remaining.

It has been suggested that the Poppies are guilty of trying to walk the ball into the goal, and this match was further strong evidence that the ‘ballers’ of Kettering need to concentrate more on testing keepers with shots on target than trying to appear on the next viral Tiktok!

Kettering did everything but score in the first half, continuing where they left off against Bishop's Stortford and played with freedom in the final third.

Jackson denied Callum Powell early on and Loza was also kept out on 17 minutes.

Loza’s second effort four minutes later needed a much smarter save from the Daniels’ gloveman when Ismail Fatadjo slipped the ball through to the Poppies striker in the box, but his shot was well parried.

Fatadjo had his own effort kept out on the half hour mark as Kettering got closer to scoring, whilst also keeping Stamford to very little possession in the final third.

Jason Alexander did need to be aware at the end of the first half when George Hobbins was through on goal, but the ball got to the keeper before a shot could be unleashed.

The second half started with another excellent save from Jackson, again Loza with the effort and the Poppies frustration began to show as Stamford slowed the game down.

That was the downfall of Jackson who received a yellow card on 62 minutes for timewasting. Instead of taking the punishment, he shouted something at the referee and immediately the yellow became a red card - Kyle Rowley took on keeping duties.

But time and again Kettering couldn't make the man advantage tell and tried one pass too many on countless occasions.

Eddie Oppong sent a great cross in for Nile Ranger be he could only head wide on 66 minutes and Loza had no better luck against the stand-in keeper and was again denied on 70 minutes.

Powell decided enough was enough on 78 minutes and opened the scoring by cutting in from the left and hammering home a 25-yard rocket into the top right corner.

But then came the sickener for Simon Hollyhead and the Poppies as Stamford equalised on 97 minutes, Kai Sanchez-Tonge poking home from yards out.

The result is a real body blow to Kettering who stay second, but could have remained just two points behind Harborough Town in the league.

But now they are four points adrift, and have a full week off – due to no fixture on Saturday – to ponder what should have been.