WHETHER Witton Albion enjoy a more exhilarating moment this season than Wes Benjamin’s winner, the game’s final kick, is unlikely.

Everything about it was perfect; in timing, trajectory and technique.

In truth it was probably the only way Carl Macauley’s men were going to get the better of Dean Snedker, Kettering Town’s goalkeeper, who for an hour had thwarted them with an outstanding individual performance.

That the hosts scored with pretty much the last touch in each half is also symbolic of a side that is relentless in its endeavour.

They have talented players, of course, but Witton again bridged any gap in class to a higher-ranked opponent by running harder, faster and for longer.

The Poppies were spent long before full-time, and would have been delighted to have held on for a draw.

They wouldn’t have deserved to, mind.

It’s a sentence that would have felt far away during an opening quarter of an hour that the visitors dominated.

They began on the front foot, and took the lead when Liam Canavan steered a low shot past Albion goalkeeper Danny Roberts after Wilson Carvalho had crossed from the right.

Canavan, a conspicuous figure with a fuzz of long, curly hair, stood out too for his ability with the ball at his feet.

But Kettering’s swift start soon fizzled out.

Albion, struggling initially to support Rob Hopley and Steven Tames in attack, took a while to get up a head of steam.

However a spell in the run-up to half time was entirely theirs.

Snedker sprinted from his line to divert Tames’ attempted lob after Roberts’ punt forward was allowed to bounce by Kettering’s defence.

Matty Devine’s driven centre skimmed off Tames’ head when Witton next attacked, then Snedker improvised to block with a boot after Hopley was sent clear by Tom Owens’ clever pass.

Owens tried his luck when a corner was cleared to him on the edge of the penalty area, only for Gary Mulligan to put his body in the way.

Prince Haywood’s shot also flashed inches wide before Albion netted the leveller their drastic improvement merited.

Snedker almost thwarted them, reacting brilliantly to parry Hopley’s header – from Paul Williams’ free kick – low to his left.

However the front man rapped the rebound past him while he was prone on the floor.

Witton carried that momentum into the second period, and ought to have gone ahead when Owens prodded wide after Hopley’s assist left the midfielder with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Referee Michael Sutcliffe upset home support when he failed to award a spot kick after Mulligan clearly handled, and tetchiness grew on the field in proportion to him losing control with time running out.

Fortunately for him, and to Witton’s delight, Benjamin’s first goal in red and white – which arrived in the sixth minute of stoppage time, diverted attention elsewhere.

Witton | 4-4-2 | Roberts (GK), Gardner, Benjamin, Wilson, Devine, Haywood, Williams, Owens, Bauress, Hopley, Tames Subs not used Noon, Hickman, Adigun, Omotola, Garner (GK) Goals Hopley 45 (+2), Benjamin 90 (+6) Booked Tames (dissent)

Kettering | 4-1-3-2 | Snedker (GK), Hicks, Haran, Malone, Langdon, Mulligan, Carvalho, Canavan, Brighton (Solkhon 50), Weir-Daley, Barnes-Homer Subs not used Hornby, O’Connor, Westwood, White (GK) Goal Canavan 10 Booked Mulligan (foul)

Referee Michael Sutcliffe

Attendance 339