Lynch scores again as Poppies finally win!

Kettering Town 1 Billericay Town 0

A goaless first-half at Rockingham Road as Kettering fielded several lineup changes from when they last were in action 10 days ago, including new faces in the team and on the bench. However, they were still unable to break down a stubborn visitor's defence during the first 45 minutes of action.

The match was eventually decided by a single strike on 75 minutes by Darren Lynch, scoring his second goal for Kettering, after getting off-the-mark against Kingstonian 10 days ago, and the relieved home supporters celebrated a rare win and three precious points. The result was certainly much more welcome than the team's poor performance and there's still a long way to go before Kettering are 'safe'.

Wilson continues to strengthen squad

Poppies manager Kevin Wilson has signed three more players ahead of Wednesday's (31st March) transfer deadline day to strengthen his playing squad for the run-in towards the end of the season in an attempt to ensure automatic qualification for Conference Division Two (North or South) next season.

John Hore, 21 year-old (ex-Carlisle and Gretna Green) midfielder is joined by 19 year-old wing-back Scot McCafferty (ex-Northampton Town) and 23 year-old midfielder Danny Brown (ex-Daventry Town).

Lynch scores but Kettering are pegged back

Kettering Town 1 Kingstonian 1

For the first time since way back when, Kettering actually scored first in a league game and even more surprisingly, it was Darren Lynch who finally got off the mark on 33 minutes to give the home side a 1-0 interval lead over visitors Kingstonian.

The second-half duly got underway with the home crowd looking for their team to build on their half-time lead, but to their dismay it was the visitors who scored to level at 1-1. Stafford Browne, who scored the K's goal in the earlier encounter, netted again on 52 minutes and the match ended in yet another draw and just a single point once again for Kettering Town.

Wilson signs Gould

Kevin Wilson signed defender Rob Gould to boost his playing squad and the 28 year-old former Grantham Town made his debut, coming on in the second-half, in the 1-1 draw with Kingstonian at Rockingham Road.

Poor Poppies leave it late to salvage another point

Kettering Town 1 Harrow Borough 1

Another scoreless 45 minutes at Rockinhgam Road as the teams went into the dressing rooms for their half-time cuppas. Half-time reports from the three matches involving teams immediately above and below Kettering in the table had all three of our 'rivals' winning.

Kettering supporters suffered the deja-vu feelings again as the home side fell 1-0 behind after a poor display in the second-half allowed the visitors to gain the advantage through Dogbe on 70 minutes.

With seconds left on the clock, it looked like Kettering would suffer another embarrassing home defeat, but once again, this time leaving it very late, they again managed to level the scores and salvage a draw courtesy of Craig Norman's equaliser on 88 minutes.

McKenzie salvages a point for Poppies at Hitchin

Hitchin Town 0 Kettering Town 0

Another scoreless first-half for Kettering as they tried to find a way through the Canaries' unyielding defence. Wayne Diuk returned to the starting lineup and Paul Fewings again partnered Darren Lynch up front with Jason Turner on the subs bench.

The second-half had barely got underway when Kettering found themselves under mounting pressure at the back and eventually they cracked as Hitchin went 1-0 up on the hour mark when Darran Hay netted for the Canaries.

Darren Lynch's failure to find the net in his 11th start was clearly underlined when he was replaced by youngster Michael McKenzie as part of a triple substitution and shortly after coming off the bench McKenzie pulled the Poppies back on level terms with just 7 minutes left.

The final whistle sounded and the Poppies had at least salvaged a point, but Ford Utd's win at home to Bognor Regis sees them climb above Kettering who now drop to 12th. Whilst the teams above Kettering are now pulling away, fortunately the other 4 teams immediately below in the table all lost today.

Stalemate between Poppies and Grays

Kettering Town 0 Grays Athletic 0

The first 45 minutes saw both teams probing forward in search of an opening, but neither side were able to find the breakthrough for the first goal and the match went into the half-time break all square at 0-0. The second-half continued in much the same fashion as neither side were able to gain the upper-hand. The final whistle sounded and both teams left the field with a point a-piece.

With the results of the teams around Kettering (in the table) arguably going slightly in the Poppies favour, a clean sheet and a point from a tough fixture with Grays probably isn't too bad a result and it allows Kettering to climb one place up into 11th position.

Goal-shy Poppies lose at Heybridge

Heybridge Swifts 1 Kettering Town 0

Kettering fell a goal behind to Heybridge on 33 minutes at Scraley Road and with the Poppies unable to penetrate the home side's defence they went into the half-time break trailing 1-0. The first 45 minutes were most notable for the departure of teenager Chris Difante, after the young striker had taken a kick to the face and received a broken nose as a result.

With young Difante off-injured early in the first-half, the onus was on the strike trio of Lynch, Fewings and Turner to provide the goals as Kettering were looking for another late comeback. But the final whistle sounded without a Kettering reply and the home side's first-half strike was enough to earn them the victory against an overall poor Poppies team performance.

Difante hat-trick rescues Kettering

Kettering Town 3 Bishop's Stortford 2

A scoreless first-half at Rockingham Road left the match on a knife-edge as Kettering sought to halt the slide and reverse their current league form. The second-half burst into life as the visitors found their way through the home side's leaky defence to go 1-0 up.

Worse was to come for Kettering as yet again they were found wanting at the back and Bishop's extended their lead to 2-0. The home supporters could've been forgiven for thinking that it was all over, especially given recent results, but Kettering immediately fought their way back into the game and young striker Chris Difante quickly pulled a goal back to give the fans some hope.