Report: Mitford hits double as Reds struggle continues

A Mitford double sealed just a second away league win of the season for Kettering as the Reds were handed a fourth straight defeat in all competitions and a fifth loss in a row at the Impact Arena.

Mitford grabbed the opener after 28 minutes, collecting a wonderful through ball, speeding away from Dom Smith before firing across Jordan Wright and into the far corner. Mitford grabbed his second on 77 curling a shot in off the post inside the box; to mount the struggle on the Reds.

Alfreton started the game pretty well with new addition Jude Oyibo causing early problems, linking well with Amari Morgan-Smith before his cross was cleared away. Jude won another corner for us as the Reds looked neat on the ball in the early stages, the corner was eventually cleared away.

Danny Clarke's run was denied by the Poppies centre half as Alfreton pressed the visitors well with a real lack of attacking threat from Kettering. Shane Killock cleared a cross from the right before Josh Clackstone headed a dangerous far post cross behind for a corner which Bobby Johnson cleared.

The best Reds chance of the half came through Killock who headed Bobby's corner goal-wards, White in the Kettering goal clawed the header away before Clarke couldn't gobble up the rebound.

Then with 28 gone, Mitford gave Kettering the lead with their first attack of the game, a sublime pass threaded him through behind Dom Smith and he finished into the far corner past debutant goalkeeper Jordan Wright.

White denied Danny Preston from close range after Bobby's nod down, before Milnes stung the palms of Wright with a free kick from 25 yards. Mitford had a chance to make it two but he slipped as Taylor's cross from the left found its way to him.

Kettering were confident with the goal lead which appeared to have zapped the energy out of the Reds who had started the game so well but the goal proved critical in swinging the tide. The first half drew to a close with Amari heading way-ward before a header from a Poppies corner went wide at the far post.

The second half began quietly with the first opening coming for Nti as he missed a big chance, totally missing the ball from a cross from the right. Conor Branson had a shot blocked at the other end before Bobby skipped past two tackles but he could only see his shot deflected behind.

The Reds huffed and puffed, Branson's shot on the turn in the box was blocked again, Bobby's free kick was blocked by the first man. The second period was ticking away from us with Kettering content with the lead but equally Alfreton were struggling to create dangerous openings.

Alfreton thought they found an equaliser with 72 gone as Preston's cross towards Clarke was cleared away only as far as David Lynch who converted the ball into the bottom corner, but the offside flag was raised on Clarke controversially.

Nti latched onto a mis-placed pass by Preston as Kettering countered, but he saw his shot go just wide of the near post. Then with 77 gone, Mitford grabbed his second as Kettering attacked on the break, he curled a shot in off the post inside the box to give the Poppies daylight in the game.

White palmed away Amari's header round the post from Bobby's cross in the only big chance in response to the deficit. But the visitors came away with all three points in what was a hard-working and deserved win for Kettering as the Reds slide in form continues.

Next up, we travel to Telford on Boxing Day looking to arrest our slide and gain a morale lifting three points.

ATFCXI: Wright, Clackstone (Tomlinson 70), Preston, Thacker, Smith (Qualter 45), Killock Lynch 70), Branson, Oyibo, Clarke, Morgan-Smith, Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Andrew, East.

Referee: Scott Simpson
Attendance: 493