MIDWEEK FOOTBALL '“ Poppies bounce back with victory at Slough

First-half goals from Rene Howe, Spencer Weir-Daley and Wilson Carvalho sealed the points for the Poppies as they produced an immediate response following the 3-1 defeat at Histon on Saturday.

Marcus Law recalled goalkeeper Paul Walker to the starting line-up and handed a first league start to Ben Stephens while Perry Cotton, who signed on a youth loan from Birmingham City earlier in the day, made his debut at right-back.

And Kettering made a good start with Howe opening the scoring after just six minutes after the hosts failed to clear the danger.

Carvalho forced home goalkeeper Mark Scott into two saved before Walker was called into action at the other end when he stopped a Warren Harris effort.

But the Poppies doubled their advantage after 33 minutes when Weir-Daley squeezed the ball under Scott after his initial volley had been saved.

Slough pulled one back almost immediately when Nathan Webb smashed home from close range and Lee Barney sent an effort over before having an effort ruled out for offside as they chased an equaliser.

However, the Poppies regained their two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time when Weir-Daley’s cross was converted by Carvalho.

Stephens shot straight at Scott with the first chance of the second half before Slough had the ball in the net again when Harris was adjudged to be offside when he touched in Lewis Putman’s shot.

The Poppies went close again themselves when Weir-Daley had a shot deflected wide for a corner but they comfortably saw the game out.

Don’t miss more Poppies news on this website and in Thursday’s Northamptonshire Telegraph