Poppies tame the Tigers to go second in the table

Kettering Town  2  Worksop Town 1

Kettering Town kicked off their final league home game of 2004 against Worksop Town, with new signings Steve Croudson, Matt Nolan and Robbie Greetham all in the starting lineup. Derek Brown returned from injury and Jonny Rowan got the nod to start alongside Matt Nolan up front, with Chris DiFante on the substitutes bench.

No goals in the first 45 minutes with neither side able to provide the finishing touch necessary to make the breakthrough in a closely fought contest that at this rate could easily be decided by a single goal.

Wilson signs two players ahead of Worksop clash

Kettering Town boss Kevin Wilson made good on his promise to bring in a couple of players after the Poppies squad was hit with suspensions and injuries, involving goalkeeper Gary Hateley and top scorer Darren Lynch.

Goalkeeper Steve Croudson and striker Matt Nolan go straight into the squad for tomorrow's clash with Worksop Town at Rockingham Road after Wilson completed their signings before the registration deadline.

Croudson was released by Conference outfit Stevenage Borough, while 22 year-old striker Matt Nolan was brought in from Coca-cola Division One side Peterborough Utd. Both players will join recent signing Robbie Greetham and a fit-again Derek Brown in competition for starting places in Kettering's final home league match of 2004.

Poppies continue to suffer vertigo

Kettering Town  1  Vauxhall Motors 1

Kevin Wilson opted to start with both Chris DiFante and Jonny Rowan up front against Vauxhall Motors, with Daniel French on the substitutes bench, along with new signing Robbie Greetham and Adam Bridgeford.

Kettering got off to a poor start at home to struggling Vauxhall Motors when the visitors scored through Karl O'Donnell with just 14 minutes gone. However it took just three minutes before the home side pulled back on level terms through a Brett Solkhon header on 17 minutes.

Late strikes rescue Poppies and claim the victory

Moor Green  1  Kettering Town   2

Kettering kicked off at Moor Green minus the services of top scorer Darren Lynch, Derek Brown and Drew Roberts, the first two injured and the latter having joined Aylesbury Utd earlier this week.

The first-half didn't start well for the Poppies reshuffled starting lineup as the home side took the lead after just nine minutes when David Bridgewater put the Moors 1-0 up. At half-time the youngsters brought in to replace the absentees had yet to make their mark and Kettering went into the break still trailing 1-0.

Rowan scores Poppies winner

Kettering Town 2   Worcester City 1

A busy first-half against Worcester City at Rockingham Road ended with the home side 1-0 up courtesy of an excellent strike and a first Poppies goal for Jamie Paterson on 44 minutes. Kettering had already lost the services of top scorer Darren Lynch and Derek Brown, who both went off injured in the first-half.

The second-half continued in much the same way until in the 67th minute Barry Woolley scored to put the visitors back on level terms at 1-1. It took just 3 minutes for the home side to regain the lead when substitute Jonathan Rowan struck what turned out to be the eventual winner. At the final whistle it was 2-1 to Kettering and a much needed and well deserved victory signaled an end to recent their winless streak.

Att: 643

Kettering: Hateley, Diuk, Morley, R Gould, Solkhon, Brown, Burgess, Paterson, J Gould, Roberts, Lynch. Subs: Rowan, French, DiFante, Matthews, McIlwain.

Keeper off as Poppies lose again

Harrogate Town 2  Kettering Town 1

Kettering Town got off to a good start on 7 minutes when Rob Gould scored to put them 1-0 up. However the home side pulled back on level terms shortly before the half-hour mark after a spell of pressure when Paul Shepherd slotted home on 29 minutes.

Disaster then struck for Kettering on the stroke of half-time when new goalkeeper Gary Hateley was shown the red card. There is doubt as to the actual reason for the red card, whether it was for a challenge on a Harrogate player or for 'foul and abusive language', but the end result was Kettering were reduced to ten men for the second-half.

Roberts stays, Corry leaves

Drew Roberts will be staying at Rockingham Road for the time being, after the Poppies striker rejected a possible move to Southern League East Division One outfit Boreham Wood. "It is always flattering when other clubs show an interest in you. But there is a lot the people here have not seen from me and I am determined to stay and show what I can do."

Roberts explained his decision, "Boreham Wood are a couple of divisions below Kettering and I don't think it would be the best career move. I feel I can do it at this level although at the moment I can't seem to buy a goal. But I want to stay and show people what I can do."

As Roberts was announcing he would be staying, another Poppies player was heading out the door, as Kettering Town manager Kevin Wilson announced he had released goalkeeper Steve Corry. "I have released Steve Corry simply because I have not been happy with his form in goal this season", commented Wilson.

Poppies win 4-3 in extra-time goal-frenzy

Kettering Town 4   Nuneaton Borough 3

Kettering got off to the worst possible start after just 5 minutes gone when visitors Nuneaton Borough took a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later things got decidedly worse as the home side found themselves 2-0 down in this League Cup Second Round tie.

Young striker Jonathan Rowan pulled a goal back for Kettering shortly after the half-hour mark with a solid header to add some balance to the scoreline, but the home side went into the half-time break still trailing 2-1 to Boro.