A competitive match on a difficult playing surface ultimately saw Royston fall to a fourth successive 1-0 defeat.

Although Royston showed plenty of endeavour and commitment, it was Kettering who deservedly took the three points, as throughout the match it was they who carved out the better opportunities, as Royston failed to register a shot on target and didn’t really threaten a well drilled home Poppies defence.

The first chance of the game fell to home forward Aaron O’Connor in the 14th minute. A well struck free kick from Linden Meikle was fumbled by Joe Welch, O’Connor was quickest to react but somehow skied his attempt over the bar when it looked far easier to score. Welch was again called into action in the 20th minute as he turned a good low shot from Ben Milne around the post.

Kettering continued to press and were looking particularly dangerous from well delivered corners, but the away defence stood firm, although they had Harold Joseph to thank for one goal line clearance.

With Royston struggling to move the ball with any real tempo on the tricky playing surface, they were unable to fashion any real chances, with the only fleeting glimpse of the home goal seen by Cambridge United loanee Joe Neal, who latched onto a Sam Corcoran pass, but shot tamely into the side netting.

The game remained a competitive affair with some robust challenges being felt by both sides. At the heart of this was Corcoran, who having already been carded was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch after another clash with home skipper Michael Richens. Corcoran’s cause wasn’t helped by the home side, knowing his reputation, taking every opportunity to make challenges look worse than they actually were.

Richens, having made a miraculous recovery from a Corcoran tackle, nearly gave the home side the lead, as he headed just wide from a Craig Stanley cross, with this being the last of the first half action.

The second half saw Kettering remain on top and chances came and went as Dan Holman fired over, O’ Connor chipped weakly at Welch when clean through and ex-Crow Rhys Hoeness saw his effort saved by Welch.

With Meikle at the heart of things in the Poppies midfield, his influence grew and it was from his through ball in the 70th minute that O’Connor scored the decisive goal, as he raced clear and slotted past Welch.

With Royston now looking to try and salvage something from the game they almost instantly shot themselves in the foot as Corcoran (who had been showing some restraint in the second half) almost inevitably received a second yellow card to receive his marching orders, not for the first time this season and for the second successive year at Latimer Road.

To the Crows credit, they continued to compete admirably as Kettering took a slightly more defensive attitude, but having been unable to breach the home defence with 11 they stood little chance with 10 and aside from a Joseph free-kick that Paul White watched sail wide, never threatened to haul themselves back into the game.

Kettering continued to manage the game well and had little trouble seeing out time, indeed they nearly doubled their lead in injury time as Holman fired over. In the end the second goal was not required, as Kettering recorded their second 1-0 victory over the Crows, to secure the three points.

Royston: 1-Welch, 2-Joseph, 3-Newton, 4-Thomas, 5-Murray, 6-Brathwaite, 7-Scott-Morris, 8-Corcoran (sent off 74), 9-Neal, 10-Green (14-Gordon 46), 11-Mentis

Unused: 12-Oswick, 15-Bola, 16-Castiglione, 17-Gallin

MOM: Dan Brathwaite