Noel-Williams and Hooper keep Poppies top of the pile

Kettering players celebrate Isiah Noel-Williams putting the Poppies ahead

KETTERING TOWN 2 STOURBRIDGE 0

Kettering Town remained at the top of the Southern League Premier Division Central league table after a hard fought 2-0 victory over second placed Stourbridge at Latimer Park last night. Goals from Isiah Noel-Williams and Gary Hooper in the final fifteen minutes saw the Poppies take a valuable three points.

Overall the Poppies did look a little leggy in the game and a ten day break before the big cup clash at Northampton is probably a good thing. Stourbridge were very physical in their approach to the game and made the first half a stop, start affair. The Poppies had most of the first half possession but it was Stourbridge who had the half's best chance when a free header from six yards out was superbly tipped over the bar by Kettering keeper Dan Jezeph. The teams went off at the break level at 0-0 but the Poppies would have known they were capable of a much better showing.

Manager Richard Lavery made changes at half-time, switching to a 3-5-2 formation and Nile Ranger and Harlain Mbayo replaced Tyree Wilson and Luca Miller. This made the Poppies look a far more solid unit and apart from a routine save midway through the second half Poppies keeper Dan Jezeph had very little else to do.

The front two of Ranger and Edwards and the non-stop running of Noel-Williams were giving the Poppies much more of an attacking threat than they had in the first half. Edwards almost put the Poppies ahead but his far post header flashed just wide of the post. The breakthrough however came with fifteen minutes left to go. Ben Hart made a burst into the box and despite scuffing his shot Isiah Noel-Williams was the quickest to react and got to the ball ahead of Stourbridge keeper Ollie Taylor to poke the ball into the bottom corner.

With eight minutes remaining on the clock Richard Lavery sent on former Celtic and Norwich City striker Gary Hooper for his debut. And from the second Hooper stepped onto the pitch you could see from his touch and vision he was a player that has played at the highest level. Hooper wrapped the game up with just a minute to go when he took a pass, skillfully side-stepped a sliding Stourbridge defender and with just Taylor to beat he cheekaly put the ball between the keepers legs and into the back of the net.

So the Poppies gained a valuable three points to keep themselves top of the pile. The performance, whilst not the best there has been this season, was one of real grit and determination against opponents that were direct and physical in their approach. The result was the sign of a good side, winning whilst not being at their best and one that you look back at in a title winning season and say was a big result.

Kettering Team: Jezeph, Hart, Powell, Kelly-Evans, Johnson, White, Noel-Williams (Sub Andrade), Thanoj (Sub Stohrer), Edwards (Sub Hooper), Miller (Sub Mbayo), Wilson (Sub Ranger)

Booking - Hart

#UTP Kettering Town Man of the match - Connor Johnson