Poppies boss Hollyhead delighted by win against Barwell but frustrated by ‘below par’ performance
Boss Simon Hollyhead was delighted with the result if not the performance of his Kettering Town players after their hard-fought 2-1 Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central win over Barwell at Latimer Park on Saturday.
The Poppies had to overcome a battling Barwell side who resorted to plenty of time-wasting tactics to try and disrupt and frustrate their hosts, especially after they scored a 24th-minute opener through Charlie Dowd.
But Kettering kept their cool to turn things round in the second half, with Jamar Loza netting from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the area, and Will Glennon then striking home a sweet free-kick from outside the area 13 minutes from time to seal the points.
It was a third straight win to start the season, and the Poppies sit second in the embryonic league table behind the only other side with a 100 per cent record, Bishops Stortford, on goal difference.
Kettering have managed three wins without yet hitting their best form, but new Latimer Park boss Hollyhead is happy to take that.
"The start is all credit to the players," said boss Hollyhead. "That was a below-par performance, but it was a very, very pleasing result.
"Sometimes you have to accept that, for whatever reason, you don't have the flow, you don't have the rhythm, maybe you don't have the energy.
"Perhaps people are a little empty emotionally after the first two games of the season, but the fans and the players stayed very strong, stayed together, stayed connected, and I thought we got the outcome we deserved and the quality came through in the end."
Hollyhead was unhappy with some of the stalling tactics used by Barwell, but admitted: "We were fully aware of what Barwell's approach to the game would be, especially if they scored first, and we have to respect how teams play, whether we agree with it or not.
"It is up to us as players and a coaching staff to accept it and adapt to it, and that was the message at half-time.
"We were incredibly frustrated with our performance, but it wasn't about smashing windows and smashing cups, it was about saying 'okay, we have to show control'."
"In the end, it was not only the quality of the players that came through but I also think it said a lot about our mental resilience as well.
"The first half was below-par, and it is up to us now to reflect on it, recover, and then examine why that happened."
Kettering have a week without a game before a testing Bank Holiday weekend double header.
On Saturday they go to big-spending Real Bedford, and then on Monday afternoon they entertain close rivals Harborough Town at Latimer Park (ko 3pm).