Kettering Town put a traumatic week behind them to take the glory on Non League Day as they came out on top of a seven goal thriller courtesy of a winner two minutes from time.

After their FA Cup win at Cinderford, Aylesbury were forced into a number of changes with Shane Wood and Bill Morgan away, and Paul Edgeworth recovering after a gum infection, so in came Greg Williams, Liam Smyth and Joey Acheampong for their first starts of the season, and Zack Reynolds was recalled the starting lineup as Dom Petrucci dropped to the bench.

The reshuffled backline was a telling element, as United shipped four sloppy goals to a team that had only scored three prior to this match, and whilst it was entertaining, defences certainly weren’t the winners with Town’s goals just as disappointing from their perspective.

United made a sluggish start to the match, and before they knew it were two goals behind. The Ducks had just about coped with a number of early set pieces, but in the 8th minute experienced striker Rob Foster met a left wing corner and flicked the ball into the net. 1-0 Kettering

Just two minutes later and things got even worse as Greg Williams turned into the lurking danger of Ashley Fuller, who pinched the ball back and quickly dispatched a crisp finish from the edge of the box. 2-0 Kettering

Aylesbury had a decent opening when Richard Armstrong poked over from close range after Jason Blackett had made a nuisance of himself to get the ball past nervous looking debutant keeper Charles Horton, and Keith Williams curled a long shot straight at Horton five minutes later.

But it was the Poppies who remained the bigger threat, and after Keith Williams mistimed a challenge on the byeline a low free-kick had to be turned wide by a surprised Jack Sillitoe.

Just before the half hour mark it should have been 3-0 but Fuller was just unable to turn home a low ball from close range, and there was a growing sense that Kettering would regret their missed chances as Aylesbury grew into the game and went close when Hatch guided Liam Smyth’s free-kick just over the bar.

In the 34th minute the Ducks did pull a goal back and it was game on again. Horton tamely palmed away Wood’s header, and Steve Hatch was on hand to drill the rebound into the net. 1-2

Still the Poppies had another good chance to extend their lead before the break, as Louis Hamilton produced a good turn on the corner of the area before sending the ball across the six-yard box where Jonathan Thorpe was just unable to reach it.

Aylesbury then had some good pressure as the interval approached, without converting it into chances, and it was the home side who were more pleased when the referee’s whistle did arrive.

Half-time: Kettering 2-1 Aylesbury

At half time Tony Joyce opted to introduce Lee Grace for his long awaited debut as United changed to a wingback system, and he was quickly in the thick of things as Blackett beat the offside trap to feed Grace whose low shot was turned behind.

The resulting corner tempted Horton flapping from his line, and the unmarked Wood arrived to easily head home his third goal of the season and level proceedings. 2-2

Six minutes later and Aylesbury had completed a comeback like those of so many times last season. Blackett once again sprung the defence before being felled in the box, and Keith Williams stepped up to confidently score from the spot. 3-2 Aylesbury

Kettering responded with a double substitution, as pacey duo Will Blazio-Muzvimbiri and Lewis Wilson entered the fray, whilst for there was delight for Aylesbury supporters as Stacey Field made his first appearance after eight weeks out with an ankle ligament injury.

Within a minute he almost scored a vintage Field goal, running clear of the defence and lobbing the keeper but seeing the ball drop wide.

That was to be as close as Aylesbury came again, as with the impetus of their dynamic substitutes, Kettering’s pressure in the last 15 minutes was almost relentless.

The Ducks looked to be off the hook when Steve Kinniburgh’s weak penalty was saved by Sillitoe after the referee pointed straight at the spot for a foul on Wilson, but just a minute later and Kettering were level.

A long free kick into the box saw Sillitoe twice save, but the rebound was eventually smashed home by Wilson for 3-3. Aylesbury cried handball, but to no avail.

David Deeney won and shot over with a free kick, but two minutes from time Latimer Park was rocking, as Kettering fans – dejected and subdued twenty minutes ago – saw their side take the lead once more.

Aylesbury were unable to clear their lines from another ball into the box, and as the ball broke loose former Glasgow Rangers trainee Steve Kinniburgh fired into the net, and atoned for his earlier poor penalty. 4-3 Kettering

Late on, Field had a shot deflected wide and Blackett lashed an ambitious effort well off target, as United kept fighting until the end.

Full time duly followed as Kettering celebrated their second league win of the season, but with the wider football community watching they will be hoping to celebrate the clubs very survival in the coming weeks.

For Aylesbury, a poor day defensively, but another week off gives them time to prepare ahead of an FA Cup ‘trip into the unknown’ to Westfield FC.