McDonald proud and relieved as Poppies deliver five-star showing against Stourbridge

Up against his former club, McDonald fielded new signing Eddie Panter from the start, and the former Bedford Town man had an instant impact, claiming the man of the match award as the Poppies turned on the power in the second half.

Kettering had dominated the opening 45 minutes without scoring, but it was a different story after the break as they rattled in five goals in the space of 31 scintillating minutes.

James Clifton netted the opener on 50 minutes, with Kai Williams making it 2-0 nine minutes later.

On 64 minutes Panter netted his first for the club, before the result was wrapped up by a Levi Andoh goal on 74 minutes and the fifth from substitute Callum Powell nine minutes from time.

The win was Kettering's first since seeing off Quorn 2-0 on November 8, and was the perfect response to last Tuesday's dismal 2-1 defeat at rock-bottom Stamford.

"I am so proud of the team," said McDonald."I told them we needed to score first, and I thought in the first half we were the better side.

"It looked more like us, and more like we want to be, and it was important coming out for the second half that we stayed on the front foot and we did that.

"We scored some good goals, had so many opportunities to score and we looked confident.

"Eddie has come in this week, and he is a player I really like, and he was terrific on Saturday.

"He really set the tone early doors in terms of his running power and his aggression, and that is something we have been missing in the forward line, but also the end product.

"But Eddie delivered with assists and took his goal well, so it was a pleasing afternoon all round."

It was a first win in four games, and the Poppies boss added: "It has been a difficult few weeks and we wanted to give the fans something back because they have been with us on this journey, and we are going to need them.

"They came out in numbers again and have supported us, and for our forwards to come good today was great.

"It was also nice to keep a clean sheet, we are all happy, it's a good weekend and it's a bit of a relief as well and we now have to get ready for our next game."

That next game is on Saturday when the Poppies travel to Halesowen, who were involved in a ding-dong 4-4 draw with Bishop's Stortford.

Halesowen, who were reduced to 10 men after just 26 minutes, fought back from 3-0 and 4-1 down to claim a point thanks to three goals in the dying stages - the leveller coming five minutes into stoppage time.

Halesowen are currently seventh in the table, four points better off than 11th-placed Poppies.