Kettering Town 1 Hemel Town 2
Hemel made it two wins from their first two league games with an impressive display at Kettering on Tuesday night.
The Tudors were trailing 1-0 at half-time, but responded well in the second half to bag the win courtesy of goals from Dave King and Matt Nolan.
Hemel sit joint-top of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division at this early stage – a far cry from the disastrous start the Tudors made to last season’s campaign.
It looked as though it would be a difficult night for Hemel on Tuesday, however, as Kettering started the game brightly and took the lead through a Warren Byerley header after 11 minutes.
Gradually, though, Hemel began to work their way back into the game, with wingers David Pearce and Victor Osubu looking dangerous.
Kettering began to get back on top at the start of the second half, but Poppies keeper Lawrie Walker was forced into a fine stop to deny Hemel substitute Jake Gilbert as the Tudors responded once again.
Hemel sensed that they could get something out of the game, and they hit a deserved equaliser in the 65th minute.
King latched on to a half-cleared corner, and the defender fired the ball low into the net through a crowd of legs to pull the Tudors level.
Minutes later, the same player saw his downward header from a corner cleared off the Kettering line, and for a while the home defence looked all at sea as Hemel attacked down both flanks.
It seemed as there was only going to be one outcome and, sure enough, Hemel netted the winner with six minutes left to play.
Alex Campana’s cross to the far post found Nolan all alone six yards out, and he volleyed superbly past Walker to give the Tudors the deserved three points.