Wilson is the new Poppies boss

Kevin Wilson was today appointed the new manager of Kettering Town Football Club. The former Cobblers, Bedford Town and Aylesbury Utd boss brings with him his assistant, Lee Howey.

Lee Howey, who turned 34 in January 2004, started his career at Bishop's Auckland, before joining Sunderland on a free tansfer. Burnley signed Howey for a transfer fee of £200,000 at the start of the 1997 season and then after a loan spell at the Cobblers he was officially transferred to Northampton for £50,000 in early 1999. Howey left the Cobblers on a free transfer to join Forest Green Rovers at the start of the 2001 season and 6 months later went to Nuneaton in a swap deal before leaving Manor Park in October of 2002.

The Poppies chairman commented, "We are all pleased Kevin Wilson has agreed to take the managers job and we welcome him together with his assistant Lee Howey. Kevin is ambitious and wants to see Kettering Town back playing at a higher level. He understands how passionate the supporters are and that expectations will be high."

Poppies make it five in-a-row at Bedford

Bedford Town 2 Kettering Town 3

Kettering took the lead through Gary Butterworth early on and Paul Fewings increased the lead to 2-0 before half-time. Then Kettering were dealt a setback when they were reduced to 10 men after the sending-off of Ian King.

Kettering increased their lead even further after the break when Brett Solkhon made it 3-0, but Bedford pulled a goal back to make it 3-1. Then the home side further reduced the deficit to a single goal, making it 3-2 to the Poppies with just minutes left on the clock. But victory was not to be denied and the Poppies held on for their fifth away victory in the league in-a-row.

Poppies match washed out

Kettering Town v Harrow Borough

Match called off due to a waterlogged pitch

Kettering Town's home fixture against Harrow Borough was called off after a pitch inspection by the referee deemed the surface too waterlogged to play the match. Fixture is to be re-arranged for a later date.

Poppies hold on for win at Northwood

Northwood 1 Kettering Town 2

It was a tale of two halves for Kettering on a wet day in Northwest London as they took command through goals by Ian King on 25 minutes and Paul Fewings just before half-time. The second-half saw the home side start to come back into the game as Kettering's dominance evapourated and Northwood reduced the deficit on 52 minutes.

As the game wore on it looked increasingly like the home side would salvage something, however it was a somewhat relieved Kettering Town team that saw out the 90 minutes and the final whistle without further incident. The 2-1 victory was Kettering's 4th away (league) win in-a-row, however, with wins for current leaders Canvey Island, Carshalton Athletic and Thurrock (the other 3 teams above Kettering had their games postponed) the Poppies remain in 7th place.

Poppies make early exit from Bryco Cup

Bryco Cup 2nd Round: Worthing 2 Kettering Town 0

Kettering made an early exit out of the Isthmian League Cup in what turned out to be a fruitless journey down to the South Coast, going down 2-0 to Ryman Division One South outfit Worthing.

Kettering team: Gourlay, Matthews, Gordon, Dancy, McIllwain, Campbell, Paschalis, Butterworth, Boyle-Chong, McKenzie (Difante 88), Fewings (Hardie 72). Subs: Solkhon

Poppies pegged back by Ducks

Kettering Town 2 Aylesbury Utd 2

Kettering Town's string of poor home results continued at Rockingham Road this afternoon when they were twice pegged back by the visitors, Aylesbury Utd. The Poppies have now collected just 1 point out of a possible 12 from their last four home games.

A bright start as Kettering took the lead through Paul Fewings, but the visitors forced the ball over the line from a corner to pull back on level terms at half-time courtesy of Ducks' defender Paul Covington.

Shortly after the second-half kicked-off, Paul Fewings netted his, and the home side's second goal and restored Kettering's lead, but again within minutes the visitors pegged the home side back again at 2-2 when Darren Lynch equalised. No further scoring before the final whistle meant only a single point for the Poppies.

The Poppies remain in 7th position, but of the six teams above them, all five that played matches today managed to win. The other side, Hornchurch, were narrowly defeated 1-0 at home to Tranmere in the FA Cup 2nd Round.

McMahon mystery? - latest update!

Just five days after the club had triumphantly announced the signing of midfielder Sam McMahon he was unexpectedly (for Poppies supporters anyway) playing a vital part in Burton Albion's 2-1 win at Northwich Victoria last night.

"The visitors were the better side early on though and Sam McMahon brought the first excitement with a rising shot that just cleared the bar" and "midfielder Sam McMahon coming closest to finding the net on his Brewers debut with a long-range effort", read extracts from two separate Brewers' match reports of last night's action.

Now I'm not sure what type of contract WE signed him on but it must be a pretty flexible one that's for sure! Or maybe there are TWO Sam McMahons? Or maybe we don't get his services until next season? I'm sure all will shortly be revealed and the McMahon mystery solved with him turning out for the Poppies as promised on Saturday.

Latest update .... mystery solved?

Revised Trophy draw featuring RLPD clubs

Last night's replays involving RLPD clubs saw another four Ryman clubs exit the competition, however three of those were at the hands of their fellow league teams:

Crawley Town 4 St Albans City 1 (aet)
Kettering Town 2 Hendon 2 (Kettering win 5-4 on penalties)
Maidenhead Utd 2 Swindon Supermarine 1
Thurrock 1 Carshalton Athletic 0
Grays Athletic 0 Aylesbury Utd 1
Basingstoke Town 1 Chippenham Town 0

Poppies win through on penalties!

FA Trophy Second Round Replay:

Kettering Town 2   Hendon 2

aet: Kettering win 5-4 on penalties

Returning to the starting lineup following Saturday's suspension and the injury to Ian King, Andy Lodge made a significant early contribution to put the home side in front after only six minutes had elapsed. However the home supporters' jubilation was abruptly curtailed when the visitors pulled themselves back on level terms through Crace within sixty seconds of the restart.

Paschalis equaliser earns Poppies draw in Trophy at Hendon

FA Trophy 2nd Round:

Hendon 1   Kettering Town 1

Kettering's players must have had one eye on the half-time cuppa again as the home side took the lead in the 45th minute in this 2nd Round FA Trophy tie at Claremont Road, courtesy of a bundled-in effort by Mark Cooper.

Eliot Paschalis, who was restored to the starting lineup for today's game, brought Kettering back on level terms in the 54th minute. Neither side could gain the upper-hand and the final whistle saw the match finish 1-1 and headed for a replay.

Kettering Town: Pettinger, Matthews, Norman, King, Diuk, Solkhon, Boyle-Chong, Butterworth, Paschalis, Turner, Graham. Subs: Dancy(King 50), McKenzie(Turner 88), Gordon, Difante, Gourlay.

Att: 225

Platnauer signs two more players

Caretaker manager Nick Platnauer has signed another two players in an effort to strengthen the squad, notably in the areas of defence and midfield. Rothwell Town's 23 year-old central defender Craig McIlwain and 27 year-old midfielder Sam McMahon.

McMahon will be no stranger to most Poppies supporters as he spent a short loan period under then manager Steve Berry during January 1997 when he played 4 league and 1 cup game before being recalled back to Leicester City. His tenure at Stevenage Borough was cut short due to injury he suffered at the end of last season, but Sam appears ready to get back to footballing action again.

Both players will be eligible to play in next Saturday's home fixture (Dec 6th).

Poppies lose at home again

Kettering Town 0   Sutton Utd 1

The Sutton team coach was delayed in a traffic jam on the M25 and kick-off was moved back to 9pm, however the U's shook off any adverse travel effects they might have been suffering to condemn the Poppies to yet another defeat at Rockingham Road.

Nurse put the visitors in front on 43 minutes and with the home side unable to find a way past the U's defence, the final whistle signaled the third home defeat in-a-row for Kettering Town.

Att: 517