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, Sandy clean through on goal had his shot saved, and the rebound was cleared from the goal line as the Poppies created better openings. 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 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.

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 second in the table behind Dunstable 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 now have a better goal difference than Daventry, after beating Leighton Town by 6 -1.

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