Second-half goal blitz shatters Stratford

A SECOND-HALF burst of goals saw Kettering Town claim a 3-1 victory over Stratford Town at Latimer Park on Tuesday night, writes Bryan Hale.

The Poppies were quickest into their stride with Wilson Carvalho and James Brighton showing up well on the flanks, but their first real chance came from a free-kick in the 15th minute which Brighton curled the wrong side of Andy Kemp’s right-hand post.

At the other end, Dior Angus had a decent effort beaten away by Kettering keeper Craig Hill with Liam Francis heading narrowly wide from the subsequent corner, but the Poppies then came close to taking the lead as the half reached its midway point.

Kemp had to go full length to push away a shot from Rene Howe, with Francis then clearing Brighton’s follow-up effort off the line.

Soon after, the lively Brighton hit a rasping left-footer straight at Kemp, but the interval arrived with the game still goalless.

Hill saved spectacularly from Mark Magee early in the second half before the Poppies took the lead on 59 minutes.

Brighton’s looping cross was returned into the six-yard box by Carvalho and turned in by Birmingham City loanee David Popa.

Spencer Weir-Daley doubled the lead with a glancing header from Carvalho’s cross eight minutes later and Carvalho made it three from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute.

Michael McGrath added a consolation goal for Town with four minutes to go.

Full match report and reaction in this week's Herald