But goalkeeper Simon Brown had earlier pulled off a terrific save to keep out Kettering's recent signing Elliott Charles.

And that looked even more valuable when Crow crashed home Simon Russell's cross with fourteen minutes remaining.

Home defender John Dempster then dipped a late attempt over the bar as his side suffered a first defeat in five games.

Kettering Town: Abbey, Taylor, Dempster, Roper, Jennings, Dance, Boucaud, Hadfield, Kelly (Wrack 81), Charles (Marna 73), Appiah (Ebigbo 86)

subs (unused): Thelwell, Thomas

Cambridge United: Brown, Roberts, Saah, Coulson, Palmer, Neilson, McAuley, Carden, Russell, Crow, Willock (Phillips 85)

subs (unused): Walker, Beesley, Murray, Reason

Goals: Crow (76)

Ref: M. Naylor (Sheffield)

Att: 1,248