Full Time:

Match Report

IN A NUTSHELL:

From the moment Rene Howe swept in the first goal in the first minute,there was only one winner in this game as the Poppies went in at the interval four goals up. Further goals came from James Brighton in the 7th and 28th minutes and Spencer Weir-Daley after 43 minutes. The second period was played out so professionally that keeper Craig Hill's kit will not need washing this week as he was fully protected for the half.

THE KETTERING SQUAD:

Liam Canavan and James Brighton reported fit and returned to the starting line up. Dom Langdon replaced Chris Carruthers and Will Grocott and Ben Stephens reverted to the bench.They were joined by the returning Richie Danquah.

HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED:

The pitch had recovered from the midweek rainfall as Kettering started with real intent. Within a minute they had scored.

Liam Canavan found Spencer Weir-Daley on the left and his low driven cross was stabbed in by the stretching Rene Howe.

City were slow out of the blocks and Kettering doubled their lead in the 7th minute. Weir-Daley took the ball off of a defender and found James Brighton. Brighton had a bit to do, but went on a mazy run into the area past a couple of defenders and finished well with a low shot past Zac Barrett.

Perry Cotton was getting forward on the right and a good run saw eventually his header back into the six yard box taken by Barrett. The Poppies were still in control and Brett Solkhon's 17th minute shot was well blocked.

City finally got forward and James Hall's left foot effort was wide.

It was 3-0 after 28 minutes. Charlie Day's foul on Wilson Carvalho led to a free kick on the right about 6 yards out of the penalty area. Ex City player, James Brighton's left foot curler was in the top left hand corner with Barrett beaten.It was a stunner.

City had to re-group and for a ten minute spell began to put some passes together, employing Day and Paul Cooper as wing backs. Despite this and a mishit Craig Hill clearance they could just not get a shot in.

Carvalho's 41st minute cross was headed behind at the near post by Lee Chaffey as Kettering threatened again. From Brighton's corner, the ball sailed across goal and Weir-Daley hit the side netting.

The striker went one better on 43 minutes as he conjured a goal out of very little. Taking a pass inside the area on the right about 12 yards out, he turned on a sixpence and fired low past Barrett and in at the right post. A poacher's goal expertly crafted.

Kettering went off to a standing ovation from their fans, who were in the majority on the terraces.

With Howe feeling a strained hamstring,Will Grocott started the second half.

Kettering soon threatened as Cotton won a corner on the right. From the kick,Weir-Daley's cross back in was cleared and Liam Canavan's subsequent lob was bundled away from goal.

Then Weir-Daley saw another shot saved and from a 58th minute corner, Solkhon's overhead kick was cleared.

Both teams used their full allocation of substitutes.

Kettering substitute,Ben Baker on the right ran onto Brighton's 74th minute cross but the volley was over the bar. Home substitute,Charlie Woolfe got in a couple of shots -both wide- as the Poppies defence was very solid.

Ben Stephens got in on the action and his snapshot was blocked and his dangerous looking cross was cleared for an unproductive corner.

The Poppies played out the last 10 minutes or so, with Cotton having a 30 yard strike saved and Hill finally got a touch of the ball on 89 minutes as he took a cross. The final effort from Jon Kaye saw the shot sail away over the bar. It was a comprehensive victory.

The Poppies now have just three away games left, with 9 home games to come starting next week with Paulton Rovers on Tuesday (7.45pm) and St Neots Town on Saturday (3pm)

Full Time: Cambridge City 0 - 4 Kettering Town

Attendance: 333 (Poppies fans estimated at 200)

Poppies man of the match: Good team performance topped by James Brighton against his former club.

Yellow cards: Cambridge:Standen,21;Day,27.

Kettering: None

Substitutions: Cambridge City :Harradine for Chaffey,45;Auger for Brown,57;Woolfe for Norris,62 Kettering: Grocott for Howe,46;Baker for Carvalho,67;Stephens for Canavan,69

Starting Line-ups: Cambridge City: Zac Barrett; Paul Cooper;Charlie Day;Adam Murray;Lee Chaffey (Captain);Martin Standen;Stuart Pearson;Jon Kaye;Joel Norris;James Hall;Charlie Brown. Subs: Ryan Auger;Charlie Woolfe;Alex Serano;Buster Harradine.

Kettering: Craig Hill;Perry Cotton;Dom Langdon;Brett Solkhon (Captain);Gary Mulligan;Herve Pepe-N'Goma;Wilson Carvalho;Liam Canavan;Rene Howe;Spencer Weir-Daley;James Brighton. Subs:Ben Baker;Chris Carruthers;Richie Danquah;Will Grocott;Ben Stephens.