It was a case of two points dropped as Kettering Town let their lead slip to draw 1-1 with Stourbridge in the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central on Saturday.
Going for their fourth successive victory on the road, the fixture had slightly more significance as it was manager Liam McDonald’s first match back at the War Memorial ground since leaving the club at the end of last season.
But the occasion never fully sparked into life as relegation threatened Stourbridge did all they could to make life difficult for their visitors.
The Poppies started the brighter with an Ismael Fatadjo attempt that was blocked just three minutes in as well as two early corners.
But no clearcut chance was presented until the opening goal – which was arguable the best quality on show for the entire match.
On 19 minutes, a headed clearance by George Forsyth from outside his own area was intercepted on the second attempt by Preston Bitemo who surged forward 30 yards, beating one red and white shirt before reaching the corner of the box and slipping the ball under Charlie Price to make it 1-0 – Bitemo’s third goal of the season for the Poppies.
Five minutes later Stourbridge needed some luck to keep Kettering at bay as a scramble inside the box allowed the ball to fall at Eddie Panter’s feet, but the sharp-shooter could only blast wide.
At the other end, Jason Alexander was well tested for the first time after Jack Fletcher played through Jack Newall, but his rifled shot was palmed away for a corner.
The half began to peter out with Fatadjo’s freekick 20 yards out headed clear on 34 minutes and Jai Verma’s effort brilliantly blocked by Lewis Coyle at full on 42 minutes, the last of the notable action.
Bitemo tried to replicate his first half heroics early on in the second half with another long run but this time saw his shot go straight towards the body of Price.
Panter was also through on goal two minutes later but a last-ditch tackle from captain Hayden Reeves denied him.
Alexander was becoming much busier needing to save a Will Etheridge free kick and hold onto a Newell shot as the hosts began to take hold of the second half.
Despite this Kettering looked solid in defence until, on 74 minutes an easy pass to cut out in midfield was missed by Coyle, allowing substitute Callum Knowles to run at goal before playing through Newall inside the box, who applied a perfect finish past Alexander to tie the scores at 1-1.
Newell was denied at a tight angle three minutes later whilst Knowles headed just over from the back post on 80 minutes with the hosts now sensing victory was on the cards.
Kettering debutant Will van Lier was in a brilliant position before being hacked down late on with not even a free-kick going the Poppies way as the final minutes became truncated and at times very robust.
There was still time late on for Kai Williams, who had made a huge impact in the short time he was on the field, to put a crisp cross into the area but Panter saw his effort cleared off the foot of Ash Carter just inches off the line.
It certainly felt like two points dropped after McDonald’s side look so comfortable for the majority of the match.
Ironically it could have been the lack of match fitness that may have played its part, but credit to the Glassboys who are show incredible fight to try and stay in the league after a horror start to their season.
The draw leaves the Poppies 12th, and 10 points adrift of the top five, although they do have games in hand on all of the teams above them.
Attention now quickly turns to Tuesday’s clash against Stratford Town at Latimer Park in what will be Kettering’s first home game for 73 days, and the first of 10 home matches to be played before the end of April.
We’ll know very quickly if home comforts can make the difference in the Poppies’ unlikely chase for a play-off place.
