McDonald satisified with victory as Poppies hit top five with win at Barwell
Liam McDonald was delighted to see his Kettering Town team jump into the play-off places with a 5-2 win at struggling Barwell on Saturday - but admitted it wasn’t a perfect performance.
The Poppies produced a stunning first half display as, playing into a strong wind, they opened up a 4-1 lead against their managerless hosts.
There were two goals for the in-form Eddie Panter and one apiece for Blaine Rowe and Nathan Jeche, but Barwell then came out strong after the restart.
They made it 4-2 on 49 minutes through Jevin Seaton, and goalkeeper Paul White then made some big stops to keep it that way until Kai Fifield made it 5-2 to settle the nerves eight minutes from time.
The win saw the Poppies go fifth, moving above Quorn on goal difference, and they still have a game in hand on their rivals below them in the table.
“We needed to come and win first and foremost and we did that,” McDonald told Kettering Town’s YouTube channel.
“It was a little bit sloppy at times, but to get the goals we did in the first half against the wind has won us the game.
“In the second half we knew Barwell would come out and it was tough, but the result was key and we got it.
“Barwell were very attacking, more attacking than I thought they would be, but we wanted to gamble a bit as well.
“It was so important we got three points, because this was one of the banana skin games where people look at it and automatically think it’s a win, and we had to remind the boys of that.
“We wanted an early goal and we got it, and it was a good win.”
And he added: “Paul White was outstanding. He made a great save in the first half, and then he made an unbelievable save in the second, which made sure they didn’t ignite the game.
“The lads have played well, there are loads of positives, but there were a lot of things we didn’t like about the second half, and we have to make sure we are better going into Friday’s game or we will get beaten.”
The Poppies now face a double header over Easter as they entertain third-placed Real Bedford on Good Friday (3pm) before making the trip to 11th-placed Stratford Town on Easter Monday.
Kettering currently trail third-placed Real Bedford by eight points.