Kettering Town 2 Halesowen Town 0 - Report

However, Halesowen made a decent start in their first competitive game against Kettering for almost 70 years.

James Roberts fired over the bar from a 10th minute corner after Asa Charlton headed back from the far post and Lee Hughes went close.

Roberts then won the ball to fire just wide from the edge of the penalty area after 23 minutes. Kettering's Lathaniel Rowe-Turner fired just wide and Michael Richens hit over bar as the hosts settled.

The Poppies then took the lead six minutes before half-time through Marcus Kelly from the left after a neat pass from Lindon Meikle on a counter-attack from Halesowen's free-kick at the other end.

Chances on goal remained few in the second period although Halesowen came near to equalising after 65 minutes when a long clearance from goalkeeper Dan Platt was helped on by Hughes to Roberts, but his effort was tipped onto the crossbar by home goalkeeper Paul White.

Charlton then planted a 75th minute far-post header over the Kettering bar.

But Kettering generally had the better of the second period and hit a couple of half chances off target. Late on, Rhys Hoenes was just wide for the hosts and Roberts volleyed wide for the visitors.

The Poppies doubled their lead to confirm their 100% record when substitute Brett Solkhon headed home Ben Toseland's cross in the third minute of injury time.

Teams

Kettering Town: White; Berry, Stohrer (Toseland), Richens, Meikle, Milnes (Borg), Hoenes, Kelly-Evans (Solkhon), M. Kelly, Towers, Rowe-Turner. Subs Not Used: Shamalo, Davidson-Miller.

Halesowen Town: Platt; Tonks (Gilpin 71), J. Kelly, Agustien (Rea 68), Bragoli, Charlton, Baker, Lawton, Hughes, Roberts, Ali (Ebanks-Blake 78). Subs Not Used: Ekongo, Goddard.

Referee: Ben Cooke Attendance: 628