The Bucks went down 3-1 at home to table-toppers Kettering Town.

Wilkin’s men started well, not letting the visitors settle and asking questions of the Kettering defence early on. But a mistake by Jimmy Armson allowed Tyree Wilson to advance on the left before crossing for Jonny Edwards, who coolly slotted home in the 12th minute to make it 1-0 to the Poppies.

The Bucks had been well on top, or as on top as you can be after ten minutes, but the goal galvanised Lavery’s side and they began to take control of the game, with Andi Thanoj orchestrating play from the middle of the park and Wilson causing trouble down the Bucks’ right. And Kettering nearly made it two on 22 minutes, but Brandon Hall did superbly well to tip Edwards’ rasping drive over the bar.

After a turbulent ten minutes, the Bucks started to find their feet again and might have levelled in the 42 minute when a fortuitous rebound set up a four on two for the Bucks. Good defending meant that Walker couldn’t take control of Dinanga’s ball across, though, and the chance was gone. And then, just minutes later, the Poppies made it 2-0 right on half time. The Bucks failed to clear a cross and Wilson was on hand to turn the ball home from close range. 2-0 to Kettering at the break.

The second half started relatively slowly, but it was Kettering who found their stride first. Luca Miller fired just wide for the Poppies on 54 minutes before Edwards all but put the game to bed just after the hour. Ben Hart hung up a cross, and Edwards headed home virutally unopposed in the six-yard box to make it 3-0.

To their credit, the Bucks kept plugging away. And cheered on by the unrelenting support of the Telford faithful, Wilkin’s men grabbed a goal on 79 minutes. Kettering couldn’t clear a corner, and Orrin Pendley nodded home from close range. The Bucks kept pushing and might have set up a grandstand finish, but Styche’s diving header skidded narrowly wide of the post. Kettering managed the seven minutes of stoppage time well, and that was that; a 3-1 win for the visitors.

The Bucks were perhaps the better side for the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes, but Kettering dominated much of the rest of the game. The Poppies were more precise and more incisive, and they deserved their win. The Bucks remain in 3rd, but the result sees the Poppies pull five points clear of Wilkin’s men having played one game less than the Bucks.