The attendance of 468 beat the previous record at Communications Park of 432, achieved at the play – off semi – final in 2010- 2011, against Biggleswade.

As the fog drifted in across the pitch, the Poppies dictated the early exchanges, former Stourbridge centre back Henry Eze dominant at the back, repelling the few Daventry attacks with relative ease!

Poppies supporters were outraged, when their captain Steve Kinniburgh appeared to have been unfairly upended by Ross Oulton, the referee waving away their appeals for a red card for a suspected raised elbow!

Daventry keeper Richard Morris made an excellent save from Andy Gooding, to deny Kettering an early lead and minute’s later winger Chris Logan shot wide as the Poppies raised their game to another level.

Kettering went ahead, deservedly in the 25th minute, a fine strike from Jonathan Thorpe beating keeper Morris down at his right hand side post.
Henry Eze hit a shot well wide of the goal, as he was falling, but was on target just before the break as he rose unchallenged to power a header in from a corner, to send the hundreds of Poppies fans into boisterous celebrations!

Their joy was to continue, a third goal was added by former Brackley Town signee Elliot Sandy, substitute Louis Hamilton provided the assist from the right, the ball eventually falling to the feet of Sandy in front of an empty goal, an opportunity he willingly accepted!

The match was effectively over at this point, Daventry had created very few chances throughout the match but Kettering always threatened, as they pushed forward.

Daventry Town Manager Darran Foster made a number of substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the match, but Kettering harried and hurried Daventry into submission!

`We were poor this evening, we didn’t get into our match stride, partly because Kettering didn’t allow us too, we allowed Kettering to dictate the match`
`We will look at what went wrong in this game, and then we shall move on to the next match! `I am very confident we can turn around our disappointment at the defeat and start winning again!

Morris prevented the Poppies from scoring a fourth, pushing away a fine strike from Josh Moreman and Adam Gooding just failed to get a foot to a fierce drive across goal, as the three hundred plus `Poppies` supporters noisily applauded a convincing victory over one of their main promotion challengers!

Despite this defeat, their first at home this season and only their fifth in twenty eight matches, Daventry are still in an excellent position in the league table, with everything to play for!

Supporters should not be too disappointed with the result, Daventry can still achieve plenty this season, the play – off positions and league title are there to be taken, out fate is in our own hands!

Jim Davis
Sports Writer

@DaventrySaddler

Match Facts:
Daventry Town 0 Kettering Town 3
Thursday 13th March 2014
Competition: Calor League Central Division One
Location: Communications Park
Daventry: Richard Morris, Ashley Deeney, Tom James, Ollie Wilkinson, Liam Dolman, Adam Confue, Ross Oulton (Will Green 55mins), Ryan Howell, Tommy Berwick (Ashley Robinson 70mins), Luke Keen, James Husband (O`Grady 60mins)
Goal scorers: Kettering Town: Jonathan Thorpe 26mins, Henry Eze 38mins, Elliot Sandy 59mins
Man of the Match: Richard Morris
In the book: Yellow – Luke Keen 82mins
Attendance: 468
Jim Davis
Sports Writer