Soren Kjeldsen joined Matt Fitzpatrick at the top of the leaderboard on day two of the British Masters at Woburn.

Overnight leader Fitzpatrick improved his score by two strokes on Friday despite struggling to recapture the form he produced en route to an opening 64.

The affable 21-year-old has threatened to claim his maiden European Tour title on a number of occasions in recent months and is once again well placed to contend over a weekend.

Yet he will begin round three alongside another in-form player, after the vastly experienced Kjeldsen went round in 68 courtesy of four birdies on his second nine.

Kjeldsen won the Irish Open in May and arrived at Woburn on the back of five top-12 finishes in his last seven tournaments.

"When you play nicely you just want to keep going," the 40-year-old Dane was quoted as saying by the European Tour's official website.

"I've always enjoyed playing a lot. I know a lot of guys take a lot of time off but I love the competition, I love to be out there.

"I feel that's why I improve, so I've always had the strategy of playing a lot."

Fitzpatrick was one over for his second round through 10 holes, but finished strongly to regain a share of the lead.

"I didn't feel like I hit it my best, so it was nice to score well coming in and shoot 69 to stay at the top of the leaderboard," said the youngster.

Richard Bland and Kiradech Aphibarnrat share third, one shot behind the leaders, while Shane Lowry, Robert Karlsson and Bradley Dredge are two back at seven under.

Mikael Lundberg posed the biggest threat to Kjeldsen and Fitzpatrick for much of the afternoon, but bogeyed the last two holes to slip back to six under.

Tournament host Ian Poulter overcame a horrendous shank on the fifth, which led to a double bogey, to shoot 70 and sit five off the pace.