KETTERING TOWN 3

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

THREE goals for hosts Kettering Town ensured Dorchester were beaten with relative ease as the sides locked horns at Latimer Park.

Will Grocott, Spencer Weir-Daley and the dangerous Rene Howe were all on target on the night for the Poppies to ensure Mark Jermyn’s men made the journey home with nothing to show for their efforts.

The Magpies went into the contest still on a high following their 4-2 win at Merthyr Town on Saturday. After both coming off the bench to score last time out, Toby Holmes and Liam Sayers were handed starts for the county town outfit.

Among the visitors’ replacements was Simon Proffitt, who has represented the Magpies’ reserves this season. Bradley Tarbuck was also named on the bench.

Kettering fielded the experienced Howe and Weir-Daley in their starting XI.

The first shot at goal of the contest went to the Magpies as Luke Holmes, who scored on Saturday, saw his effort well held by Poppies’ stopper Craig Hill.

After a relatively quiet opening, the home side then came close from a set-piece. James Brighton’s corner was punched by Shane Murphy in the Magpies’ goal and Wilson Carvalho’s effort on the follow up was stabbed away.

But following an effort from Sayers, it was Kettering who took the lead. A Brighton free-kick found Howe at the back post, he fizzed the ball across goal for Grocott to slot home.

Howe then saw a fierce volley saved soon after the restart and sent another wicked strike straight at goal which cannoned off the bar.

Luke Holmes then crossed for Nathan Walker, who headed wide as Jermyn’s charges went in at the break trailing.

But, just a few minutes after the restart, it was 2-0 to Kettering.

Weir-Daley’s floated effort left Murphy helpless and found its way into the net.

The Magpies then tried to use their options from the bench as Toby Holmes was replaced by Ben Watson and Tarbuck made his return to action, replacing Sayers.

Charlie Davis then went off injured for the visitors, leaving them down to 10 men, and there was still time for Howe to cap off his night with a goal as the home side, who also hit the bar again late on, cruised to victory.

Kettering: Hill, Bateman (Langdon), Solkhon, Mulligan, Brighton, Carvalho, Pepe-N’Goma, Canavan, Grocott (Stephens), Howe, Weir-Daley (Sandy) Subs not used: Carruthers, Walker

Magpies: Murphy, Hanger, Smeeton, Jermyn, Oldring, Walker, Davis, Clarke, T Holmes (Tarbuck), L Holmes (Brookes), Sayers (Watson) Subs not used: Proffitt, Walker-Harris

Attendance: 342