Glen Taylor smashed an astonishing four goals as Moors enjoyed a wonderful victory over Kettering Town in the sunshine at The Brewery Field.
The front man produced a devastating display of finishing to help himself to a hat-trick in just over half an hour and struck a fourth to move into top spot in the division’s top scorers list.
It’s the firs time the legendary striker has struck four times in a league game for Moors and his predatory instincts in front of goal meant the struggling visitors rarely looked like taking anything from the game.
Taylor’s first arrived on 18 minutes when Lebrun Mbeka was afforded space to cross from the right and the striker met the delivery with a perfect glancing header which found the bottom corner.
John Lufudu – back in the side from the start against The Poppies – then drove brilliantly down the right and flashed a low ball across goal which Taylor got on the end of to make it 2-0 on 27 minutes.
It was 3-0 with only 32 played when this time Taylor rose highest to meet Paul Blackett’s corner from the right and his powerful header flashed into the corner of the net despite the best efforts of a defender.
The Poppies were shell-shocked but gave themselves a strand of hope late in the first half when Jimmy Knowles – on loan from Mansfield Town – was sent clear through the middle and he rounded Harry Flatters to reduce the deficit.
However, Taylor restored Moors’ three-goal lead with the best goal of the game seven minutes into the second half. The striker was allowed too much time and space 25 yards from goal and he curled a sumptuous left-footed effort beyond keeper Owen Mason to make it 4-1.
Kettering’s defence breathed a sigh of relief when Taylor was withdrawn midway through the second half and they briefly threatened an unlikely comeback when George Forsyth drove home to make it 4-2 on 73 minutes.
Indeed, Flatters had to make an extraordinary save down low to his right to ensure that Lee Glover’s visitors did not snatch a third goal and really set up a frantic finale.
As it was, the day belonged to Taylor and his four-goal supershow ensures that Moors still retain a slim hope of gate-crashing the top seven this season as they head for Southport on Tuesday night.
Full Time: Moors 4 Kettering Town 2
Moors: Flatters, Mbeka (Wombwell 50), Curtis, Ledger, Lufudu, Ross, Ramshaw, Shanks (Anderson 78), Taylor (Day 68), Blackett.
Subs not used: Greaves, McKeown.
Booked: Shanks (25)
Kettering Town: Mason, Myles, White, Gascoigne, Sharpe, Forsyth, Stohrer, Sault (Bennett 68), Ward, Sheriff (Hill 54); Knowles.
Subs not used: Scott, Lewthwaite, Lakin.
Booked: White (70)
Referee: Paul Cooper
Attendance: 1,330 (56 Kettering Town)