Kettering wins thrills boss Baker

30 Oct 2017 By David Watters

Leek Town manager Neil Baker has hailed his Buildbase FA Trophy giant-killers after the Blues beat Kettering Town to gain revenge for their exit at the hands of the Poppies in the Emirates FA Cup last season.

The Blues lost a five goal thriller with the title-chasing EVO-STIK League Southern Premier club last term but reversed the scoreline this time around to go into Monday's draw for the second qualifying round and book a trip to fellow giant-killers Glossop North End, 3-2 winners themselves over top flight Matlock Town on Saturday.

Baker was full of praise for his side after seeing them take a two-goal lead and then be pegged back midway through the second half before striker Tim Grice pulled it out of the bag and is pictured celebrating his winner with just four minutes of normal time remaining.

Dan Trickett-Smith and Niall Maguire opened the scoring the EVO-STIK League South club and Baker said: “That was a terrific result for the lads - I was delighted for them. The team responded well after loosing the lead that knocked the stuffing out of them. Kettering then pushed on higher and as a result I could see us getting another chance and when it came Gricey took it well."

Like all 29 EVO-STIK League clubs who went into the hat on Monday at Wembley, the winner of their meeting with the Hillmen on Saturday 11 November at Surrey Street will bank another £4,000 in prize money to add to £3,250 for victory in the first qualifying round.

Images courtesy of @leektown/Twitter

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Where next?

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