McDonald satisfied with share of the spoils as Poppies tough it out at Halesowen Town

The Poppies looked to be on course for a second Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central win as they led 1-0 thanks to a 42nd-minute strike from Levi Andoh.

But the home side levelled midway through the second half thanks to a Jason Cowley penalty, and that was how it stayed, despite stacks of pressure being piled on to the Poppies rearguard.

McDonald bemoaned the fact that his team failed to perform in the second half, but was delighted with their defensive work ethic, stating that it was a game the Poppes would have lost a matter of weeks ago.

"I am happy with a point because Halesowen are a fantastic football team, and they will be in the play-offs and competing to win the league," McDonald told Kettering Town's YouTube channel.

"They are a really good team, and their fitness was incredible but we knew they had that in them and it was why they are where they are.

"We are frustrated, but I think this is a great point because not many teams go to Halesowen and get anything.

"In saying that, do I think we should have won the game? No, I don't. For 35 or 45 minutes we have had to defend, and defend, and defend.

"Three of four weeks ago we would have lost that game 3-1 or 4-1, but the boys really dug in when they needed to.

"We had set-pieces at the back end of the game where we could have nicked something, but it's a good point.

"They will be thinking they should have won, but I don't think Jay (Jason Alexander) made a great deal of saves, it was just half chances."

The draw leaves Kettering sitting in 11th place in the league, seven points outside the play-offs, while Halesowen stayed seventh, three points off the top five.

The Poppies have a free midweek before returning to action on Saturday with a home date against 16th-placed Bury Town.