Stamford AFC are beaten by Kettering Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central
Former Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger netted twice to send Stamford to defeat in their Southern League Premier Division Central clash at Kettering Town on Tuesday night.
Ranger - who also played professionally for Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon, Blackpool and Southend - scored both of the goals in the first half of the clash at Latimer Park.
It moved the Poppies up into second place, two points behind table-topping Stamford with a game in hand, as Graham Drury's side fell to their third league loss of the campaign.
The Stamford manager was impressed by the home side but was left to rue a couple of decent missed opportunities by his team.
He said: "We caught Kettering on a good night. They are a real force who I think will take some stopping this year.
"But we certainly missed the best two chances of the game and, if you don't take them, you get punished at this level."
Drury had made two changes to his starting line-up following the weekend win at Alvechurch with Charlie Marzano coming back to face his former club and Tobias Liversidge replacing Lee Shaw.
Stamford created the better openings in the early exchanges with Jack Duffy setting Tendai Chitiza free but he was unable to add the finishing touch to a good chance.
James Blunden then saw a header cleared off the line before Kettering took the lead midway through the first half.
Harry Vince was adjudged to have caught Isiah Noel-Williams in the penalty area and Ranger stepped up to convert the spot kick.
The Daniels could have got themselves back on level terms when Rob Morgan played a brilliant ball over the top to release Liversidge but his excellent effort brought a superb save out of Dan Jezeph in the home goal.
And, a couple of minutes before half-time, Kettering doubled their lead as Noel-Williams picked out Ranger to score his second of the game.
Kettering looked to add to their tally after the break with Will Glennon and Blunden making some crucial defensive clearances to keep the Poppies at bay.
Chitiza sent a header wide at the other end before Stamford goalkeeper Tom Jackson produced a great double save to deny the Poppies late on as the Daniels were defeated.
They are without a league game this weekend and will return to action on Saturday, October 5, with a home tie in the FA Trophy against Northern Premier League Midlands Division side Anstey Nomads.
