Imps swamp Poppies

Kettering Town 2 Lincoln City 5

Kettering Town were overrun by visitors Lincoln City at Rockingham Road tonight and eventually went down by a 5-2 scoreline in their final preseason home fixture.

It took the visitors just 6 minutes to breach the home defence when Marcus Richardson scored from close-in, and 10 minutes later Simon Yeo headed home to make it 2-0 to Lincoln. A further 10 minutes brought about the visitor's third goal as Richardson scored his second of the night.

Already 3-0 down at the break, things got worse for Kettering as Lincoln increased their lead 5 minutes after the restart and it was new signing Michael Blackwood that made it 4-0 to the Imps.

Wayne Diuk at least managed to pull a goal back for the home side, but the 4-goal advantage was restored as ex-Poppy Richard Butcher struck from the edge of the area to make it 5-1. Kettering reduced the deficit once again when substitute Simon Underwood scored in the 77th minute, but when the final whistle sounded, the 5-2 scoreline said it all.

Att: 489

Win some, lose some .. and Fewings departs

Kettering Town manager Kevin Wilson watched a strong Poppies side run out comfortable 2-0 winners at Banbury Utd courtesy of a Daniel French goal after 6 minutes and a second added by Ollie Burgess in the 67th minute to seal the victory.

Kettering: Steve Corry, Matt Harris, Rob Gould, Derek Brown, Martin Matthews, Jamie Kearns, Roy Hunter, Ollie Burgess, Craig McIlwain, Drew Roberts, Daniel French. Subs: Adam Bridgeford, Brett Solkhon, Matt Collins, James Waite.

Wilson was also able to catch the second-half of his 'other' side's away match at Long Buckby, which kicked off 2 hours later than the Banbury match. The hosts eventually emerged as 3-1 winners with Chris DiFante grabbing the Poppies' consolation goal.

Paul Fewings has departed Rockingham Road after Poppies boss Kevin Wilson informed him 'he wasn't in his plans for next season'.

Wilson continues shaping Poppies squad

Kettering Town manager Kevin Wilson has hinted that by this time next week he will most likely have decided his final squad for the coming season. "We are getting to the stage now when decisions have to be made. By the time we go to Devon next weekend I think the situation will look a lot clearer."

The recent signing of midfielder Jamie Kearnes means Wilson only has two or three places left to fill in his stated target of 20 squad players for the new season. "I am still looking at other players. As a manager you always have to keep an open mind and there is still time for some to make an impact."

Cobblers gain narrow victory over Poppies

Kettering Town 1 Northampton Town 2

Kettering Town continued their preseason buildup with another challenging home fixture for Kevin Wilson's men against a strong visiting Northampton Town side which included recent signings Fred Murray and Scott McGleish.

The visitors went 1-0 up just before the half-hour mark as Marc Richards turned sharply to fire them into the lead. Drew Roberts again showed his impressive goalscoring capability as he blasted home the equaliser from 25yds out on 39 minutes and Kettering went into the break level at 1-1.

Poppies sign Burgess

Kevin Wilson added to his squad for the new season with the announcement that midfielder Ollie Burgess has signed for Kettering Town. The 23 year-old started his career at QPR and then moved to Northampton Town before playing for Basingstoke Town last season and scoring in their 3-0 victory at Rockingham Road earlier this year.

Posh narrowly outgun Poppies

Kettering Town 2 Peterborough Utd 3

Despite taking the lead twice, Kettering Town were eventually beaten 3-2 by Peterborugh Utd at Rockingham Road this afternoon in a preseason friendly.

The home side scored first when Drew Roberts netted in the 13th minute but the visitors pulled back on level terms through a free-kick from Curtis Woodhouse.

Paul Fewings, displaying his goalscoring prowess from last season, restored Kettering's lead on 36 minutes and at the break it was the home team who went into the dressing rooms 2-1 in front.

The second-half brought the inevitable glut of player changes and Posh substitute Clive Platt came on to head his side back on level terms on 69 minutes. With 15 minutes left Peterborough took the lead for the first time when Adam Newton calmly slotted home a through ball and the visitors held the lead until the final whistle for a narrow 3-2 victory.

Att: 631

Poppies win both friendlies played on same day

Kettering Town manager Kevin Wilson decided to combat the new substitute rules (which allow only six named subs in friendlies) by splitting his squad into two teams and sending them off to play two matches on the same Saturday.

The morning's match was at Buckingham and the Poppies ran out comfortable 6-0 winners, with goals courtesy of Drew Roberts, Brett Solkhon, Ollie Burgess, Aaran Cavill, Paul Fewings and Collins.

The match played in the afternoon at Corby Town's Rockingham Triangle was a much closer contested affair, but a single goal scored by Simon Underwood was enough to secure the Poppies a 1-0 victory.

Kettering lineup: Lewis Solly, Brett Solkhon, Liam Folds, Rob Betts, Rob Gould, Craig McIlwain, Wayne Diuk, Jamie Kearns, Chris Difante, Mark Danks, Daniel French. Subs: Chris Newbold, Mick Tolton, Simon Underwood, Matt Harris.

Poppies draw with Foxes

Kettering Town got their pre-season off to a good start with a 1-1 draw against a strong Leicester City XI at Rockingham Road tonight.

The visitors scored after just two minutes through Tommy Wright but the home side pulled back on level terms in the 66th minute with a penalty by trialist Mark Danks. The attendance was 1,110.

Matthews to stay at Rockingham Road

Martin Matthews has decided to accept the terms laid out by Poppies boss Kevin Wilson and will remain at Rockingham Road for the coming season.

Matthews takes over from the departed Craig Norman as the Poppies' longest-serving player currently at Rockingham Road and will be awarded a testimonial later in the season. He was also given the role as club captain, with Rob Gould taking over the team captain's role.

Poppies sign striker Roberts

Kettering Town have announced 20-year-old Drew Roberts has signed on at Rockingham Road for the coming season, just 24 hours ahead of the club's first pre-season friendly at home to Leicester City.

Poppies boss Kevin Wilson had unsuccessfully tried to sign the Bedford Town striker mid-way through last season, but following the Eagles failure to secure a Conference South spot Roberts had a change of mind.

Roberts explained it was the right time now to move on from the New Eyrie, "Kettering are a very well-known club and it is a big challenge for me to come and play here. Last season was a good one for me at Bedford and I am confident I can take that sort of form into the new campaign for Kettering."

Wilson added; "Drew is a natural goalscorer and he is still very young. There were a lot of clubs chasing him after the end of the season. But I am very happy he has agreed to play for us. He is a lad with a big future."

Poppies away to Newport County in Trophy

Kettering Town were drawn away to Conference South outfit Newport County in the 1st Round of the FA Trophy competition, with the tie to take place on Saturday November 6th 2004.

Also in the draw were locals sides Rothwell and Stamford, drawn at home to (Conference North) side Nuneaton Borough and away to Bedford Town respectively.

Corby Town must first get past visitors Brackley Town in the Preliminary Round stage on Saturday 9th October 2004, before they can make the relatively short trip to face Oxford City in the 1st Round.

The prize money for this season's competition is as follows:

Preliminary Round (33) £1,000

First Round Winners (82) £1,800

Second Round Winners (41) £3,000

Third Round Winners (32) £4,000

Fourth Round Winners (16) £5,000

Fifth Round Winners (8) £6,000

Sixth Round Winners (4) £7,000

Semi-Final Winners (2) £16,000

Final Winners (1) £50,000

Gould takes on role of Poppies captain

At least one question on the lips of most Poppies supporters has now been answered less than a week before the club starts it's pre-season programme; who will take over as team captain.

Rob Gould has been given the role and the 29 year-old is 'looking forward to the challenge ahead'; "I am very happy to be the captain here and I appreciate the fact that the manager asked me to do it.

I see myself as a good leader. I talk a lot on the field and I have got the chance to do that as captain now. Everyone here knows that they are involved with a big club that, in all honesty, belongs in the Conference. Hopefully the supporters will get behind us from the start and we will respond by doing the business on the field for them."

Poppies boss Kevin Wilson explained his reasons for awarding the responsibility to Gould, "Rob really firmed up the back-four at the end of last season. But he is a good motivator and that is why I wanted him as team captain. I am sure he will do a good job."

Poppies open North campaign at home to Hucknall

Kettering Town open their Conference North campaign on August 14th 2004 at home to last season's Northern Premier League champions Hucknall Town and three days later visit old rivals Stafford Rangers in their first away fixture of the new season.

The 'derby' fixtures this season will be against Hinckley Utd, with the Boxing Day away match being on Sunday 26th December 2004 and the return fixture at Rockingham Road on New Year's Day. Kettering should conclude their league campaign away to Nuneaton Borough on Saturday April 30th 2005.

Kettering's full fixture list for the 2004-05 season is now available on the Fixtures/Results page.