James Collins' brace helped Forest Green to victory over Kettering in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Collins nodded in Jake Thomson's cross early on, before James Norwood and Matty Taylor went close to extending their lead.

But Collins got his second with a fine strike from the edge of the area, before Yan Klukowski added the third into the bottom left corner.

Danny Mills got Kettering's consolation from close range late on.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Kettering Town caretaker manager Ashley Westwood told BBC Radio Northampton:

"We've given them a goal after one minute from a set-piece, which is a manager's nightmare.

"It was an uphill climb from there. We were facing 2-0 and 3-0 at home and we could've easily slipped under then, with all the things off the field.

"But we kept going, gave them a few problems and scored the last goal, so that's a little bit encouraging.

"All I know is that (potential new owner) George Rolls is working hard, he's interested in doing it. I'm aware there's still some things to be done and sorted out. I'm being told what I need to be told."

Forest Green boss Dave Hockaday told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"I thought first half we were poor for our standard, the good thing was we won the gamem I'm really angry with conceding late on because keeping a clean sheet looks that much better.

"Our set-play deliveries and the movement were super - we looked slick, but in open play we can play a lot, lot better. We were 50% capacity and really we should be getting 80.

"It's a great win, a great three points, the performance - I have to be honest, I'm not just saying it - wasn't good enough.

"A few of us turned up and we didn't have our proper heads on, I didn't think we were focused, some of us weren't at it."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)

Kettering

  • 12 Walker
  • 03 Davis
  • 05 Sangare
  • 06 J Ifil
  • 17 Ralth
  • 23 Noubissie
  • 08 Aman
  • 11 Kelly
  • 20 Bridges
  • 28 Hornby (Jones - 83' )
  • 18 Mills

Substitutes

  • 32 Pryor
  • 26 Ford
  • 38 Jones

Forest Green

  • 30 Russell
  • 02 Hodgkiss
  • 03 Stokes
  • 05 Turley
  • 22 Oshodi
  • 08 Klukowski
  • 21 Thomson
  • 28 J Collins
  • 07 Norwood (Forbes - 35' )
  • 14 Taylor (T Wright - 68' )
  • 24 Henderson (Pook - 89' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bulman
  • 16 Graham
  • 04 Pook
  • 11 Forbes
  • 29 T Wright
Ref: Bull
Att: 830

Match Stats

Shots

8 15

On target

0 3

Corners

4 9

Fouls

11 19

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:06 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:33

Michael Pook fouled by Patrick Noubissie, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jake Thomson.

90:00 +2:41

Patrick Noubissie fouled by Tommy Wright, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sol Davis.

90:00 +1:06

Chris Stokes is caught offside. Laurie Walker restarts play with the free kick.

89:43

Assist on the goal came from Patrick Noubissie.

89:43 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Mills - Kettering 1 - 3 Forest Grn Danny Mills finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Kettering 1-3 Forest Green.

89:43

The ball is delivered by Patrick Noubissie,

89:19

Jamie Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jerel Ifil. Sol Davis takes the free kick.

88:19 Substitution

Substitution Michael Pook is brought on as a substitute for Liam Henderson.

86:12

Eddie Oshodi concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Mills. Free kick crossed right-footed by Aman Verma from right wing, save made by Sam Russell.

84:34

Marcus Kelly is caught offside. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

84:19

Danny Mills takes a shot. Save by Sam Russell.

82:04

Jake Thomson takes the free kick.

82:04 Substitution

Substitution Ollie Jones replaces Lewis Hornby.

82:04

Marcus Kelly challenges Liam Henderson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

80:15

Foul by Aman Verma on Eddie Oshodi, free kick awarded. Sam Russell takes the direct free kick.

79:13

Jake Thomson takes the inswinging corner, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Laurie Walker by Liam Henderson. Laurie Walker restarts play with the free kick.

79:04

The ball is crossed by Keiron Forbes, Jerel Ifil makes a clearance.

78:19

The referee blows for offside against Chris Stokes. Free kick taken by Djoumin Sangare.

76:17

The assist for the goal came from Liam Henderson.

76:17 Goal scored

Goal - Yan Klukowski - Kettering 0 - 3 Forest Grn Yan Klukowski finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Kettering 0-3 Forest Green.

75:49

Jamie Collins has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

73:22

Patrick Noubissie produces a cross, Nathan Ralph has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

72:05

Lewis Hornby fouled by Tommy Wright, the ref awards a free kick. Sol Davis takes the free kick.

71:34

The official flags Jamie Turley offside. Direct free kick taken by Laurie Walker.

70:29

Lewis Hornby produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

69:41

Nathan Ralph produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

69:28

Jerel Ifil sends in a cross, Jamie Turley manages to make a clearance.

69:00

Foul by Jamie Turley on Danny Mills, free kick awarded. Lewis Hornby restarts play with the free kick.

68:27

Centre by Jared Hodgkiss, clearance by Patrick Noubissie.

67:46 Substitution

Substitution Tommy Wright on for Matty Taylor.

65:35

Inswinging corner taken by Jake Thomson, save made by Laurie Walker.

64:11

The ball is delivered by Yan Klukowski, Shot from close range by Matty Taylor clears the bar.

63:23

David Bridges concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Henderson. Direct free kick taken by Jake Thomson.

62:47

Shot by Patrick Noubissie from a long way out goes over the net.

62:12

Foul by Jamie Turley on Danny Mills, free kick awarded. Sol Davis takes the direct free kick.

61:11

Jake Thomson takes the inswinging corner, Eddie Oshodi produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

61:00

Chris Stokes delivers the ball, clearance made by Nathan Ralph.

59:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sol Davis by Liam Henderson. Laurie Walker restarts play with the free kick.

59:26

Jamie Collins takes a shot. Save by Laurie Walker.

58:30

Jake Thomson produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

58:24

Matty Taylor delivers the ball, clearance by Djoumin Sangare.

57:22

Matty Taylor takes a shot. Save made by Laurie Walker.

56:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Mills by Jamie Turley. Lewis Hornby restarts play with the free kick.

55:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Ralph on Jamie Collins. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

54:51

Liam Henderson concedes a free kick for a foul on David Bridges. Free kick taken by Sol Davis.

53:50

Inswinging corner taken by Marcus Kelly from the right by-line, Jared Hodgkiss makes a clearance.

53:32

Sol Davis sends in a cross, clearance made by Eddie Oshodi.

53:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Mills by Jamie Turley. David Bridges takes the direct free kick.

49:03

Jared Hodgkiss sends in a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Yan Klukowski misses to the right of the goal.

47:59

Corner taken by Jake Thomson from the left by-line to the near post, Lewis Hornby makes a clearance.

47:19

Effort from deep inside the area by Chris Stokes clears the bar.

46:49

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Thomson from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Sol Davis.

46:34

Jake Thomson produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and strikes the post.

46:24

Matty Taylor crosses the ball, clearance made by Jerel Ifil.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +1:13 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:34

Jared Hodgkiss is adjudged to have handled the ball. Marcus Kelly crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Sam Russell.

45:00 +0:34

Handball by Jared Hodgkiss. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Marcus Kelly from left wing, save made by Sam Russell.

42:55

Matty Taylor is caught offside. Free kick taken by Djoumin Sangare.

41:54

The referee blows for offside against Matty Taylor. Direct free kick taken by Djoumin Sangare.

39:11

Assist on the goal came from Liam Henderson.

39:11 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Collins - Kettering 0 - 2 Forest Grn Jamie Collins grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Kettering 0-2 Forest Green.

37:48

Sol Davis delivers the ball, clearance by Eddie Oshodi.

36:48

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Sam Russell.

36:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Djoumin Sangare by Yan Klukowski. Direct free kick taken by Sol Davis.

35:22

The ball is crossed by Djoumin Sangare, Header on goal by Nathan Ralph from just inside the area goes over the goal.

34:12

Free kick taken by Laurie Walker.

34:12 Substitution

Substitution (Forest Green) makes a substitution, with Keiron Forbes coming on for James Norwood.

34:12

The assistant referee flags for offside against Matty Taylor.

32:36

Unfair challenge on Liam Henderson by Danny Mills results in a free kick. The ball is crossed by Jake Thomson, James Norwood takes a shot. Save by Laurie Walker.

27:47

The assistant referee signals for offside against Matty Taylor. Laurie Walker takes the free kick.

27:32

Unfair challenge on James Norwood by Patrick Noubissie results in a free kick. Chris Stokes takes the free kick.

26:38

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Marcus Kelly, clearance made by Chris Stokes.

25:25

Matty Taylor concedes a free kick for a foul on Sol Davis. Free kick crossed right-footed by Lewis Hornby, Eddie Oshodi makes a clearance.

23:04

The ball is sent over by Marcus Kelly.

22:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jerel Ifil by Eddie Oshodi. Laurie Walker takes the direct free kick.

21:34

Djoumin Sangare challenges James Norwood unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jake Thomson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance made by Djoumin Sangare.

20:04

Nathan Ralph fouled by Jamie Collins, the ref awards a free kick. Marcus Kelly crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Eddie Oshodi.

18:08

Corner taken by Lewis Hornby.

17:51

Marcus Kelly takes a shot. Jamie Turley gets a block in.

16:39

The ball is delivered by James Norwood.

16:16

Foul by Jerel Ifil on Jamie Turley, free kick awarded. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

15:47

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Lewis Hornby from the left by-line to the near post, Jake Thomson makes a clearance.

15:22

Marcus Kelly takes a shot.

14:01

Corner taken right-footed by Jake Thomson to the near post, free kick awarded for a foul by Eddie Oshodi on Djoumin Sangare. Free kick taken by Laurie Walker.

13:41

Corner from right by-line taken by Jake Thomson.

13:12

Matty Taylor takes a shot. Save made by Laurie Walker.

10:55

David Bridges fouled by Jake Thomson, the ref awards a free kick. Sol Davis takes the direct free kick.

10:17

Matty Taylor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jerel Ifil. Laurie Walker takes the free kick.

9:11

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Thomson from the right by-line, save made by Laurie Walker.

8:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Norwood on Patrick Noubissie. Djoumin Sangare takes the free kick.

7:37

The ball is swung over by Sol Davis.

6:26

James Norwood has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

5:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Djoumin Sangare on Matty Taylor. Free kick taken by Jake Thomson.

5:26

David Bridges concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Thomson. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

5:18

Patrick Noubissie crosses the ball, Eddie Oshodi manages to make a clearance.

3:51

Sol Davis sends in a cross, clearance made by Jake Thomson.

1:02

Jake Thomson provided the assist for the goal.

1:02 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Collins - Kettering 0 - 1 Forest Grn Jamie Collins scores a headed goal from close in. Kettering 0-1 Forest Green.

0:36

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Thomson played to the near post,

0:00

The match gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association