Mixed emotions for McDonald as Poppies shoot themselves in the foot with defensive errors

The Poppies manager was livid with his side's woeful defending as the Bees were gifted all of their goals by avoidable errors, but was also delighted with the actual performance his tean put in when they had possession, saying it was the best since has has been at the club.

Indeed, McDonald felt his team were the more dominant for long spells of the derby day encounter at the Bee Hive, but the home side showed their ruthless streak to secure another three points as they bid for the title and automatic promotion.

As for Kettering, they were left to rue what might have been as they slipped back down to 11th in the table, seven points adrift of the play-offs.

The Bees had eased into a 3-0 lead early in the second half before Levi Andoh pulled one back 16 minutes from time. Harborough then made it 4-1 in stoppage time before Ethan Fitzhugh added a late goal that was no more than a consolation.

"I am not happy with the result," said McDonald. "I have managed a long time and we have dominated for half an hour of the first half, and in the second half I think we have done the same.

"Harborough have broke away a few times and scored and it has been poor, poor defending.

"We are a team, but defensively from the keeper to the back three we were poor, in terms of the times we had to defend and that has ultimately cost us the game.

"We are disappointed, but on the flip side that was probably our best performance since I have been here, which is crazy to say.

"But if you can't defend properly in key moments, this is what Harborough can do and is why they are where they are."

Most frustrating for McDonald was the fact the Poppies conceded just before and just after half-time, through Connor Kennedy and Brady Hickey respectively, going from 1-0 to 3-0 down in the blink of an eye following a first-minute strike from David Kamara.

"I think if it had been 1-0 at half-time I would have been happy, as we were defending against the wind and couldn't get out as much," said McDonald.

"To concede such a soft goal as we did, and that was down to the defenders. As much as it is a team game, they have let us down and that needs to be said. It gave us a mountain to climb.

"We have then come out for the second half and it is a mistake again, Rowey (Blain Rowe) has dribbled out, got caught, and the next thing you know the ball is in the back of our net from the six yard box again.

"In terms of us being commanding between the sticks, that didn't happen all afternoon, so I am frustrated and disappointed, but there were a lot of positives.

"It is easy to be critical because we have lost 4-2, and I am just disappointed with the manner of the goals because I think we played well.

"If you look at the stats, I think we have probably had the better of them, but ultimately the one we wanted was the scoreline, and we didn't get that."

The Poppies are back in action on Saturday when they host eighth-placed Stratford Town at Latimer Park (ko 3pm).

Interview by Peter Short