Kettering 1 Darlington 3

Goals: Cooper (og 8 mins 1-0), Lambert (35 mins, 1-1) Cooper (64 mins, 1-2), Hatfield (86 mins 1-3)

Attendance 835

Jake Cooper scored at both ends as Quakers won their second away game of the season.

Quakers didn't get off to a good start and gifted Kettering the lead with a headed own goal by Jake Cooper, but they slowly got on top and took control after a superb free kick by man of the match Jack Lambert just before half time.

Quakers played some very good football in the second half, and Cooper's header put them ahead, then Will Hatfield scored from the spot to complete the win. 

The win means that Quakers are now just two points below the play off positions.

Kettering forced the game’s first corner in the second minute, but when the ball came into the middle, Danny Rose was fouled and won a free kick.

Quakers replied with a move down the right, which ended with Kettering keeper Smith holding on to Kallum Griffiths’ cross.

Kettering had a chance on 5 minutes. Chris Smith picked up a throw in on the right, crossed into the middle and Connor Barrett headed wide.

But Kettering were gifted the lead on on 8 minutes. A long ball forward seemed to be covered by Cooper, and headed the ball back to keeper Tommy Taylor, but put it over the keeper and into the net.

Kettering went looking for a second, and Callum Powell turned quickly and put a left foot shot wide.

Jack Lambert whipped in a cross from the left, but it was too close to the keeper.

After Griffiths put a good cross across the face of goal, Powell broke for Kettering and Purver was booked for bringing him down. O’Neill fired the free kick towards goal, and the ball was tipped over the bar by Taylor, although the referee awarded a goal kick.

Quakers levelled after 35 minutes. Will Hatfield, who made several surging runs in the game, was fouled 25 yards out and Stohrer was booked. Hatfield ran over the ball, and instead Lambert blasted it through the wall, and into the net off the right hand post with the keeper beaten.

Lambert then showed some great skill on the left, turning a defender inside out twice and his low cross was saved by the keeper.

Quakers nearly went 2-1 up when Jake Cassidy nodded down a free kick for Alex Storey to fire towards goal, but his shot was blocked.

Then in Quakers’ next attack, Cassidy broke away, and Smith saved his effort at full stretch.

Quakers ended the half on top.

Half time 1-1

Quakers caused a scare for Kettering on 47 minutes when a low corner by Lambert from the left went right across the six yard box without anyone able to get a touch.

Quakers had another chance from a corner a minute later. The ball was played short for Rose to have a shot blocked, and his follow up with his outstretched right leg ended on the roof of the net.

Hatfield then made a great run in from the right, played a 1-2, and had a right foot shot deflected wide, with Quakers claiming the use of a hand by a defender.

However, the speedy Powell broke away for Kettering and got the edge of the Darlington box before firing wide of the left hand post.

Quakers had a half chance from a corner on 59 minutes. Danny Rose’s corner was partly cleared to Hatfield on the edge of the box, and his low shot went wide.

Quakers deservedly took the lead on 64 minutes. Rose floated a corner in from the right hand side, and Cooper rose high to head into the net at the far post -- his second goal in as many games.

It was nearly 3-1 when Rose curled a free kick into the box but Cooper couldn’t get enough power behind his effort and the keeper saved.

Lambert again showed some good skill on the right and put the ball into the middle where Cassidy couldn’t quite get any accuracy on his touch and the ball went wide.

Kettering broke away again through danger man Powell, who worked his way into the box and fired into the side netting.

Quakers were awarded a penalty on 86 minutes when Cooper was tripped as he turned in the box, and Hatfield scored from the spot for the second successive week to make sure of the points on Quakers' firstever visit to Latimer Park.

Final score:

Kettering 1 Darlington 3

Team: Tommy Taylor, Griffiths, Storey, Cooper, Hedley; Hatfield, Purver, Rose, Lambert (sub Mondal 87) , Rivers (sub Dos Santos 90) ,  Cassidy (sub Beauchamp 90).

Subs: Brandon Taylor, Martin

Booking: Purver, Cassidy

Kettering: Jackson Smith, Barrett (sub Sherrif 61), Brown, Ward, Chris Smith, O’Neill, Powell, Kennedy (sub Perry 69), McDonagh (Sherriff 75), Stohrer, Ofosu

Subs:Crawford, Sherif, Unwin, Perry

Booking: Stohrer, O’Neill, McDonagh, Ward