More frustration as unconvincing Kettering Town are held by nine-man Hitchin

Three points were seemingly begging to be taken with 16 minutes of the match remaining.

Bailey Brown's goal on 40 minutes was the difference between the two sides, while Hitchin had only threatened Paul White's goal once.

There was also the fact Blue Joy was sent off for a second yellow card to give the Poppies a man advantage.

However, this talented but brittle squad clearly lack confidence on goal and a mistake from White, who brought down substitute Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, allowed the striker to dust himself down before firing his spot kick into the roof of the net.

A horror tackle on Eddie Panter by Luke Stokoe, who had only been on the pitch for 18 minutes, then gave Kettering a two-man advantage for the final five minutes, but they barely threatened with two deep crosses from Ryan Hayes flying out of play when a composed head was needed.

Once again Kettering dominated possession but could not break down a dogged defence as newly promoted Hitchin reduced their visitors to just a handful of chances.

It was the Canaries with the first real chances - an 11th minute corner found captain Ciaren Jones who sent a powerful header towards goal that needed a strong hand from White to tip over.

Rio Deall had two efforts saved from outside the area whilst the dangerous Kye Tearl needed a brave block by Tom Leak to keep his shot out.

Kettering did enjoy a solid final 10 minutes of the half, going on to take the lead.

Theo Alexandrou beat the offside trap on 34 minutes but could only glace his shot off a yellow shirt.

A minute later, Tai Flemming fired a shot off from just inside the area which Tyler McGregor needed to dive brilliantly to his right to turn away.

After a number of poor set pieces, the Poppies finally got one right on 40 minutes. Haynes whipped in a corner from the right and McGregor came out too early allowing Brown to nod his header into an empty net.

The second half began positively for Kettering with Michael Gyasi causing problems on the left flank and sent a fierce ball across the face of goal, but no one in red was in the box to tap home on 53 minutes.

With the game still In the balance, Hitchin threw on their exciting substitute Simeon Olarein on 65 minutes and immediately he created two chances - forcing a diving save from an angled shot and repeated the trick a minute later, cutting in from the right but couldn't get the perfect contact with the ball allowing White to get a hand to his shot.

On 75 minutes the game swung back into Kettering's favour - Panter was released heading for goal before being hauled down by defender Joy, who had no complaints being sent from the field for an early shower.

But all Kettering could muster with the man advantage was a high and wide shot from Lawson D'Ath.

Instead it was the hosts who looked the more threatening and so it told on 83 minutes when Freitas-Gouveia beat two red shirts to get to the ball first before being brough down by White at his near post.

The penalty was taken with such confidence and there was enough time for a shock comeback for the hosts to be completed.

That was snuffed out when Stokoe saw a straight red on 90 minutes, but still Kettering created very little.

Panter did run onto a wide ball before cutting in and sent a shot goalward but McGregor was able to hold on to the ball.

A large travelling fanbase did not choose to show their disapproval at full time, instead cutting apathetic figures as the rain soaked players gathered for a post match huddle.

Kettering's squad of players is far too talented for this run of uninspiring performances to continue, but there is little time to right those wrongs, with bottom of the table and pointless Stamford visiting Latimer Park on Bank Holiday Monday (ko 3pm).