Mark Gardiner's team proved they were not playing with half a mind on Trophy success by producing their most emphatic league victory of the campaign. Vics have now taken 13 points from a possible 15 against the top three with Cheltenham yet to visit The Drill Field.

Do not doubt that this was thoroughly deserved, because it was a performance of gusto and flamboyance which left Kettering reeling. The visitors were completely out-classed.

Robertson and Crookes were rock-like at the back, Devlin and Walters were cultured and imperious in midfield and Tait and Peel were persistent in attack.

On the wings Vicary and Terry stretched the opposition's defence to breaking point but it was the running from deep of Mark Birch and Wes Simpson which really surprised the visitors.

It was their surging runs, particularly in the second half, which put the seal on the victory. Indeed, Simpson has been a revelation in recent games, adding weight to the manager's belief that he is a more effective player in the right back slot. But it was two clinical strikes from Paul Tait in the opening half which set the home side on their way.

The first goal came on 17 minutes after a string of chances had signalled the home side's intent.

Mark Devlin, who had drilled a shot through a crowded penalty area and inches wide of the post after just three minutes, was the provider.

The classy playmaker lifted a delicate lobbed pass over the visitors' defence from the edge of the area into the path of Paul Tait on the left of the penalty box.

The striker took the ball down well and, with impressive composure, slipped his shot under the advancing goalkeeper, Steve Wilson, and into the corner of the net.

A minute later and Tait, enjoying a magnificent spell, almost turned provider when he skipped past a challenge on the left side of the box and whipped in a cross from the by line.

But his pass into the six yard box was cleared to safety by Martin Matthews as Terry prepared to pounce.

In response, Paul Raynor forced new signing Lance Key into action with a 20 yard shot which the former Rochdale 'keeper gathered with ease.

Undeterred, Northwich continued their forward momentum with Walters and Devlin dictating the pace of the play. And, on 29 minutes, they were rewarded when another fine pass from the Scotsman led to a second Tait strike.

His long ball down the right wing released Tait, who skipped past Craig Norman before firing a fierce drive from an acute angle across the face of Wilson and into the far corner of the net.

Seven minutes later and Terry deflected a Walters shot through a crowd into the corner of the net but it was ruled out for offside. So it remained 2-0 until the interval, with the visitors only chance coming from a dipping 30 yard volley by Steve Williams which Key saved with ease.

Where as Vics had spent the first half proving they were the superior side, they spent the second 45 minutes enjoying that superiority, adding two goals without reply despite seemingly slipping down a gear.

How fulfilling it must have been for Mark Gardiner to witness his team playing so well, making the league leaders look like foot of the table scrappers.

Indeed, Kettering were reduced to 10 men on 56 minutes as a result of their increasing frustration. A late challenge by Dominic Crookes on substitute Steve Williams earned the visitors a free kick just inside the Northwich half.

But Williams took matters into his own hands, head-butting Crookes as he got to his feet. His dismissal ended any faint hopes of a Poppies fightback.

It merely increased the home side's confidence and gave Birch and Simpson greater licence to come forward.

The third goal came when Simpson cut in from the right, bursting past the Kettering back-line thanks to a neat one-two with Peel on the edge of the box. He then drilled a shot between the 'keeper's legs for his first goal of the season.

Not to be outdone, Birch notched up his first goal in a Green shirt with 18 minutes left. He cut into the left side of the area and played the ball into Walters near the penalty spot. The Vics captain played a short first touch pass into the path of Birch, who had continued his run, allowing the defender to drill a low, hard shot past Wilson for Vics fourth. The home side merely played out time, revelling in long spells of possession within the Kettering half.

For Lance Key, it was the easiest of debuts after completing his permanent move. For Kingstonian, who visit The Drill Field for the Trophy quarter-final on March 27, it was a reminder of what Northwich are capable of.

Northwich: Key 7; Simpson 9, Birch 8, Crookes 8, Robertson 7 (Duffy 72); Devlin 9, Terry 9, Walters 8, Vicary 8; Peel 7 (Illman 78), Tait 9 (Cooke 68).

Kettering: Wilson, Matthews, Adams, Hone, Vowden, Norman, Haydon, Brown, Hudson, McNamara, Fisher (Williams 45); Not used: Eastwood, Sollitt.

Goals: Tait 17, 29; Simpson 66; Birch 72; Ref: C W Oliver (Ashington); Bookings: Crookes, Robertson, Peel, Tait; Williams (sent-off); Att: 1,385; MoM: Paul Tait.

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