Kettering 0 Spennymoor 2.

Glen Taylor took his tally to a superb nine goals in his last four matches with both goals in Moors’ 2-0 away win at Kettering.

Since he came back from a three-week layoff, Taylor has proved that he hasn’t lost any of his hunger. He scored twice in the Cup against Lancaster after coming on as sub, once in the home win over Kidderminster, four in the 6-2 thrashing of Ashton in the Cup, and now this brace at Latimer Park.

The victory was Moors’ fourth on the bounce, and lifted them up the table to 14th, only five points behind the promotion places.

Moors kept a firm grip on the game once Kettering had defender Jay Williams shown a red card for flattening midfielder Rob Ramshaw with an elbow.

Moors manager Jason Ainsley said; “Glen is back to his best again, and showing loads of hunger and desire. We are reaping the rewards – he’s now out twelve for the season which isn’t bad considering that he was out injured for three weeks.

“Ben McKenna did some great work to set both his goals up, and as usual Glen took them really well.

“It was a comfortable win without hitting the heights of recent weeks. We scored early in both halves to keep control. I thought it was a professional performance. I thought we started the game well and looked a threat. Kettering is a tough place to go to and they’re a strong side at home, and we ground the result out.

“We looked really good with the ball and solid in defence. Our keeper didn’t have much to do. They were a good three points because we have a break coming up now with the FA Cup.

“We scored when they had eleven on the pitch, and I was pleased that we kept a clean sheet. Gouldy didn’t have much to do at all.

“Our summer signings are all starting to come good now and they’ve settled down. It also helps not having to play two games per week, it’s a big help being able to go on to the training ground and work with the lads.”

There was one moment of controversy in the game when Kettering had defender Jay Williams sent off, and then thought the referee should have also shown McKenna a red card.

“I thought their player deserved his sending off, because he elbowed Rob Ramshaw. The crowd was quite hostile after that and wanted Ben sent off, but that challenge was more head to head, he didn’t use an elbow.”

Taylor nearly opened his account in the opening minutes with a header that went just wide from a Dan Ward free kick, but he broke through after just 5 minutes when McKenna broke up the left hand side and crossed neatly for Taylor to beat Kettering keeper Paul White with a header.

Moors looked likely to score a second, even more so than when Kettering had defender Williams red carded for elbowing McKenna in an aerial challenge.

Kettering had a rare chance when Marcus Kelly fired wide from 20 yards but just on half time Moors could have scored a second when Taylor set up Dan Ward a few yards out, but the former Boro midfielder’s effort was blocked.

And there was another chance when Ramshaw set up Roberts, but his effort was saved by White.

Moors had their hearts in their mouths just on half time when McKenna caught Gary Stohrer in another aerial challenge, but the ref only showed him a yellow when the home side expected more.

Moors didn’t look back just a few minutes after the restart when Taylor scored his second. McKenna once again made a good run up the left and set up Taylor who volleyed superbly with his left foot past White into the net.

Kettering hardly threatened Moors after that, and Moors nearly got a third when Mark Anderson broke away, but curled his shot over the bar.

Taylor nearly completed back-to-back hat tricks on 83 minutes, but his low shot went just past the post.

Team: Gould, Magnay, Mason, Chandler, Buddle, Curtis, Ward (sub Anderson 62), Ramshaw, Taylor, Roberts (sub Cogdon 81), McKenna.

Not used: Williams, Atkinson, Boyes.