Alty peg back Poppies

Altrincham 3   Kettering Town 3

Kettering traveled to Altrincham tonight hoping to bounce back from the defeat at Barrow on Saturday and in the process keep the pressure on the other clubs at the top of the table in a full fixture night in the Conference North.

Jamie Paterson (from Barrow) started for Kettering at Altrincham in a shake up that also saw Martin Matthews and Daniel French on the substitutes bench with Jamie Kearns and Wayne Diuk in the starting lineup. Solkhon was out injured from the side that lost 2-1 at Barrow.

A lively start with both teams probing forward but neither side able to find the final touch in the early stages of the first-half before Kettering went in front. A header from top scorer Darren Lynch on 39 minutes and another goal from Drew Roberts on the stroke of half-time saw the Poppies go into the break 2-0 up.

Barrow beat Poppies at Holker Street

Barrow 2   Kettering Town 1

Scott McCafferty was passed fit to start, with Chris DiFante back on the substitutes bench and Drew Roberts replacing the youngster in the starting lineup. No score in the first 45 minutes at Holker Street and a let-off for Poppies with Barrow missing a penalty.

The second-half got underway with the home side on the ascendancy and after several close chances Barrow took the lead on 59 minutes when a volley by Glenn Murray beat Steve Corry to put the Bluebirds 1-0 up.

Poppies win takes them into second place in the table

Kettering Town 2   Barrow 0

Derek Brown returned to the Poppies starting lineup at home to Barrow in this re-arranged Conference North fixture, with Chris DiFante partnering Darren Lynch up front and Rob Gould on the bench.

Kettering got off to a flying start in the 3rd minute when Ollie Burgess chested a ball down in the box, turned and planted it firmly past the Bluebirds keeper to put the home side 1-0 up.

Lynch wins award, Brown and Roberts get workout

Darren Lynch received two-thirds of the total vote to win the Nationwide Player of the Month for September, posted on the official Conference football website, www.footballconference.co.uk.

Lynch was delighted to have won the award and was quick to share the accolade with the rest of his Poppies team mates, " .. I couldn't do what I do if it wasn't for all the other players. So this is for them as well."

Derek Brown and Drew Roberts were part of the Poppies 'reserve' side that beat Rothwell Reserves 2-1 last night at Cecil St. The Kettering team made up of Poppies Youth and squad players fell behind to a Michael Coles strike, but two goals from Stephan Morley gave Kettering the narrow victory.

Poppies win at home

Kettering Town 2   Stalybridge Celtic 0

No score in the first 45 minutes at Rockingham Road as Kettering started the match against Stalybridge with Chris DiFante and Liam Folds while Drew Roberts, Wayne Diuk and Derek Brown were on the substitutes bench.

The second-half had barely got under way when Poppies top scorer Darren Lynch struck his 11th goal of the season to put the home side 1-0 up. Less than 60 seconds later and Kettering increased their lead when Chris DiFante made it 2-0 on the hour mark.

Despite further chances the score remained 2-0 at the final whistle, but the home victory was a much-needed boost for the Poppies and the 3pts gained moves them up to 3rd place in the table.

Att: 756

Poppies crash out of cup after failing to convert chances

Kettering Town 0   Stafford Rangers 1

Kettering dominated virtually from the kick-off, but couldn't find a way through the visitors defence in the first 45 minutes despite having several chances to take the lead in this FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round Replay.

The failure to find the net and convert their chances into goals cost the Poppies dear as the game reached the latter stages when Robert Heath breached the home defence in the 85th minute to break the deadlock and put Rangers 1-0 up.

The home side's lack of a finishing touch continued right up until the final whistle and this time around there was to be no late rescue forthcoming as Kettering crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

Att: 904

Lynch late strike gives Poppies a second chance in Cup

Stafford Rangers 2  Kettering Town 2

Kettering took the early lead at Marston Rd against Rangers when Daniel French scored his first goal for the club on 19 minutes to put the Poppies 1-0 up. However, before half-time had arrived the home side were quickly back on level terms at 1-1 when Robin Gibson neatly slotted the ball past Steve Corry.

In the second-half it was Stafford who took the lead to go 2-1 up via a Mark Danks strike on 67 minutes and the home side looked likely to be going through to the 3rd Qualifying Round. However, in the 90th minute up popped Darren Lynch to equalise with a header and make the final score 2-2, forcing a replay on Tueday night at Rockingham Road.

Att: 788

Kettering: Corry, Matthews, McCafferty, Solkhon, McIlwain, Gould, Burgess, Folds, Lynch, Roberts, French. Subs: Diuk (French, 87), Kearns (Folds, 87), Lazarus, Difante (Roberts, 84), Morley.