More than steady from Eddie as new signing Panter makes instant Poppies impact
Kettering Town boss Liam McDonald was delighted with the impact of new signing Eddie Panter as the striker inspired his new team to a 5-0 thrashing of Stourbridge on Saturday.
Front man Panter is a player that McDonald has long admired, and he was very happy to be able to sign the lively attacker from Step 2 side Bedford Town for an undisclosed fee at the end of last week.
McDonald mulled over whether or not to start his new signing for the visit of Stourbridge, but in the end he opted to unleash his new attacking weapon from the start, and it was a move that paid rich dividends.
Panter gave the Poppies attack a new focus and energy as well as notching the third of five second-half goals, and McDonald admitted he wasn't surprised by the player's impact.
"We looked at whether or not to bring Eddie straight in, as he hasn't played much football at Bedford and has only been coming on as a sub," said the Kettering boss.
"But last season he caused my team problems and scored, and it is the same in this game and he has gone and done it again.
"All it takes sometimes is a bit of a catalyst to come in and get everyone really confident, and I think after five minutes all the lads stepped up.
"It gave everybody a lift, and when one player does that, that is all it takes sometimes and is why we chucked him in there.
"It would have been easy for him to come off the bench, but I felt it was best to start him.
"I am not going to say Eddie was man of the match, because I thought everybody did really well and I am just really proud of the lads."
Panter will be aiming to build on his impressive start when the Poppies make the trip to Halesowen on Saturday.
It is an opposition that will spark good memories for Panter, as he scored twice for Bedford in a 3-2 win over them a little under a year ago.