Kettering 1  Ian Bowling 2  Martin Matthews 4  Mark Haran 5  Lee Howarth 8  Shaun Murray 14  Naill Inman 15  Wayne Diuk 19  Carl Shutt 21  Michael Boyle-Chong 32  Victor Asombang 38  Brett Solkhon Substitutes 24  Steffan Darcy 29  Williams Gourlay 35  Delroy Gordon 39  Davey Williamson ?  Carlin Itonga

Goals Solkhon Stein   Stein   Stein Stats 4 Goal Attempts 10 4 On Target 7 0 Off Target 2 0 Hit Woodwork 1 1 Corners 4 Cards Yellow Shutt Junior Red None None

Dag & Red Tony Roberts  1 Ashley Vickers  3 Steve Heffer  6 Paul Terry  8 Danny Shipp  9 Mark Stein  10 Junior  13 Lee Matthews  17 Tarkan Mustafa  19 Steve Watts  25 John McGrath  26 Substitutes Mark Janney  7 Danny Hill  14 Steve West  15 Paul Gothard  18 Steve Potts  24

The Daggers visited a decimated Kettering side with many players suspended and injured such that their bench didn't have a player with a number lower than 24. However, their work rate meant they had much of the early play against a lethargic Daggers side which didn't really get out oif the blocks until the second half. The search for a eigth straight win was not helped by a set of officials more suited to a day in front of the TV. It almost reached Yerby proportions but not quite.

The visitors continued with Junior on the wing and a Stein/Watts partnership up front which made very little inroad as the midfield struggled to supply anything of note, the home side coming on strong early.

Victor Asombang was particularly impressive with his off the ball running and dribbling. It didn't take long for the home team to take the lead as a debateable free kick was flighted in, and with Roberts, who was clearly not fully fit, deciding to go too late, Solkhon got up highest to head home. However, the Daggers got back in it quicker than their play really deserved, Watts finally beating the flag of the linesman, and although he was blocked, Junior's cross-shot was banged into the top corner by Stein.

Soon after, a right wing cross found Stein unmarked and he headed straight at the keeper when he should really have given the Daggers a lead. Watts also hit the bar with an overhead kick, but for the most part, the strikers weren't holding the ball up and the defence were under some pressure. Asombang's superb wriggling on the by-line set up Inman who fired at the grateful Roberts, and then Inman again found himself in the clear but his low shot was gathered by the Daggers keeper. Asombang was halted in his tracks just before half time though. Vickers was chasing back to clear when Asombang came out of nowhere to prod the ball, Ashley's foot only making substantial contact with the chest of the small striker.

At half time, the home fans had the cheek to boo off a referee who had given them an inundation of free kicks, many for non-existent fouls, and including all the 50/50 decisions.

The second half saw the Daggers get to grips with the home strike force and refused them a shot for the whole half. Most of the play was in the home team's half, and they had to work very hard to keep the Daggers out, which meant that by the end, they had completely run out of steam. This meant a hatful of late chances for the visitors and they took two to win the game.

Mustafa, having by far his best Daggers game since his switch, with some great defensive and attacking work, curled his cross around the full back and onto the foot of the waiting Stein who simply tapped home. The Daggers started to run riot as Junior was moved into the middle to pull the weary defence around, and this created even more chances for Stein. This came after a ridiculous piece of refereeing which denied the Daggers another goal.

Matthews got up to loop a header towards the back post and it dropped between keeper and defender as they both tried to clear. The ball went into the goal and Bowling could only manage to push the ball against the inside of the side netting, causing it to bulge right out. With the referee standing just yards from the bulging net and the linesman standing along the goal line, neither, apparantly, saw the ball cross the line despite the whole ball being about a foot over the line. The referee tried to pass the buck to the linesman but it was the referee who was ideally placed to give it. As appeasement, the referee soon after gave a corner instead of a blatant goal-kick. It didn't work.

However, the third did come as Terry burst into the box and squared to the again unmarked Stein who slotted home for the hattrick. It could easily have been more for him, as his overhead kick was held by Bowling and he then missed a superb chance when McGrath's chip through saw him put it wide from a few yards out. West came on for appearance 50 in a Daggers shirt late on as the Daggers played out time and secure a 4-1, sorry I mean 3-1 win.