Two goals in the second half by Elliot Sandy and substitute Dubi Ogbonna sealed a 2 – 0 victory for Kettering Town in the big county derby at Latimer Park, as both clubs looked to seal their positions in the top five places of the Southern League Central Division.

Daventry Town Manager Darran Foster was disappointed, but confident his team can still go on and win the league title next week,
`We are all very frustrated with the result, because for seventy minutes we were the team most likely to take all three points!
The lads are very disappointed, but they know what they have to do in the next two matches and are up for the challenge! `We had many chances go begging and hitting the woodwork twice is the sort of luck you need to go with you, not against you in these high profile games.

`Kettering are an excellent outfit and it was good to be the better side for large periods of the game.
I was disappointed with the way in which we appeared to fold after the first goal. `Their second goal was two yards offside, but it was irrelevant by that time, as we never looked like breaking them down over the last fifteen minutes.

Daventry were without midfielder Adam Confue with a sprained ankle but defender Marcel Simpson made a welcome return to the side, as Daventry looked to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

Daventry had by far the better chances in the first half, Ryan Howell heading over the bar after just two minutes, before Howell then produced an excellent overhead kick which was cleared off the line by defender Andy Gooding.
Howell was unlucky minutes later when his shot bounced onto the post to deny Daventry the lead. Simpson and Morris almost got in each other’s way as Sandy closed down between them, until Simpson managed to clear the ball from his path.

The Poppies first effort on goal came just before the interval, James Jepson heading past the post from a swiftly taken throw in.
Kettering were much more dangerous in the second half, Elliot Sandy clean through on goal had his shot saved, and the rebound was cleared from the goal line as the Poppies created many more chances.

A goal mouth melee minutes later, ended with Daventry keeper Richard Morris desperately clutching the ball.
Josh O`Grady should have put Town ahead on the hour, but his fine tap past the Poppies keeper Alastair Worby curled onto the post and in the ensuing scramble for the rebound, Ross Oulton and keeper Alastair Worby collided, resulting in Worby needing attention.

The game changed with the introduction of Dubi Ogbonna for Josh Moreman, the quick feet of the pacy striker providing the Daventry defenders with a new threat to deal with.
Elliot Sandy saw a shot bounce past the past, but got his name on the score sheet soon after, a high cross from the right by-line found Sandy, whose downward header bounced once, before beating Richard Morris.

Ryan Howell had yet another opportunity to score, as he was about to hit a shot inside the area, defender James Clifton put in a superb tackle to block the shot and send the ball high over the bar. The second goal came from the left, Obi Ogbonna outpacing Liam Dolman to fire in a wonderful low shot inside the right hand post, giving Morris very little chance of stopping. There was an element of off –side, but the referee waved away appeals from the Daventry bench.

The attendance of 1228 was the second best attendance in all three divisions of the Southern League this season; Premier league Champions Hemel Hempstead recorded a crowd of 1943 in their first game of the season v Chesham United last August!

Daventry are now third in the table behind Dunstable Town and Rugby Town, but have one game in hand at Egham Town on Wednesday evening. Town need to win at `The Sarnies` to ensure they go into their final match at home to Chalfont St Peter next Saturday, with the title still in their own hands! Dunstable and Rugby Town now have a better goal difference than Daventry, after Dunstable beat Leighton Town by 6 -1 and Rugby beat Barton Rovers by 2 - 0.

Darran Foster spoke about the importance of the last two games,
`Going to Egham on Wednesday will not be easy, but it’s a game we can win. We finish the season with a massive home tie against Chalfont St Peter next Saturday, which is all that stands between us and the league title?

`Our last nine performances have been exceptional and if we had taken our chances, we would be champions by now! Unfortunately, football is a funny old game and it will continue to throw up many more surprises before the season ends!

`Next Saturday could be another momentous day in the history of this football club; we could win the Southern League Central Division Title!
I would like the town’s football supporters to come along and get behind their club, for one last push at the title!

Jim Davis
Sports Writer

Match Facts:
Kettering Town 2 Daventry Town 0
Monday 21st April 2014
Competition: Southern League Central Division
Location: Latimer Park, Burton Latimer
Daventry: Richard Morris, Ollie Wilkinson, Tom James, Marcel Simpson, Liam Dolman (Capt), James Husband, Ross Oulton (Mykel Beckley 76mins), Ryan Howell, Josh Blake, Josh O`Grady, Luke Keen (Scott Cross 76mins)
Subs: not used – Guy Sanders, Ashley Deeney, Jamie Gould
Goal scorers: Elliot Sandy 72mins, Dubi Ogbonna 87mins
Man of the Match: Marcel Simpson
In the book: Yellow: Josh O`Grady 60mins, Ollie Wilkinson 77mins
Attendance: 1228