Penalty pegs back struggling Poppies at Vauxhall Motors

Vauxhall Motors 1
Rooney 78 (pen)

Kettering Town 1
Howe 52

Kettering Town manager Morell Maison was forced to make several changes to his starting lineup for the trip to Rivacre Road, not least was the change between the posts as Nick Bussey came in for the suspended Mark Osborn. Luke Graham is also suspended, but John Dempster, Jean Black, Darren Caskey and Parys Okai all started for the Poppies and Jean-Paul Marna was on the bench.

Not much to report on the first 45 minutes with neither side able to break the deadlock and the two teams having a relatively poor first half in terms of goalscoring chances, went into the half-time break still all-square at 0-0.

The second-half kicked off and Kettering appeared to have stepped up the pace a little, knowing a draw could possibly see them fall further behind in the title race. The vital breakthrough finally came for Kettering courtesy of the Poppies' top goalscorer Rene Howe who put his side 1-0 up on 52 minutes.

A single goal always looked as though it wouldn't be enough against a battling Vauxhall side and with the match entering the final stages the home side got back on level terms courtesy of a penalty when striker Tommy Rooney was brought down in the box and picked himself up to score from the spot to make it 1-1 on 78 minutes.

Kettering couldn't find another gear and at the final whistle the match ended 1-1 and a quick glance at the other results sees Droylsden winning 2-1 to go 8pts clear and Kettering's title hopes seem to be floundering on their much talked about inconsistency to put together a winning run. Morell Maison's men have now won just once in their last five league games, certainly not championship form.

Att: 235

Kettering: Bussey, Dempster, McIlwain, Peprah, Solkhon, Caskey, Boucaud, Black, Okai, Howe, Westcarr. Subs: Hall, Morley, Marna, Olaleye, Jordan.

Vauxhall: Lake, Woodyatt, McMahon, Dames, Field, Griffiths, Garrity, Whittaker, Mogan, Rooney, Wright. Subs: Spellman, MacAuley, Carroll, Ness, O'hare.