Not too much drama on final Saturday

Congratulations to Southport who clinched the Conference North Championship in style with an emphatic 5-2 victory at Harrogate Town. That result also meant Kettering Town and Altrincham qualified for the play-offs, despite both teams losing their final matches.

Nuneaton Borough's 2-0 win over Kettering took them into runner's up spot, following a surprise 3-1 home defeat for Droylsden at the hands of visitors Worksop Town. Altrincham's 4-2 defeat at Hucknall Town still allowed them the courtesy of making the play-offs by a single point over the luckless Harrogate Town.

Southport can now rest and look forward to a return to the Conference National next season, while the real battle begins for the four play-off qualifiers. Nuneaton Borough host Altrincham on Tuesday night and Droylsden host Kettering Town on Monday afternoon in sudden-death one-legged matches to see who goes through to the Conference North Final.

Conference North play-off matches:

Droylsden v Kettering Town - Monday 2nd May, 3pm kick-off

Nuneaton Borough v Altrincham - Tuesday 3rd May, 7.45pm kick-off

Poppies lose at Nuneaton but through to play-offs

Nuneaton Borough   2     Kettering Town   0

Kettering kicked off their final match of the regular Conference North season, hoping it wasn't to be their final match of the campaign. Already without top scorer Darren Lynch, the Poppies suffered another blow when Jamie Patterson was substituted early in the first-half with a suspected hamstring injury.

Kevin Wilson's men found it tough going against an in-form Nuneaton Borough and it was the home side who struck the first blow. Mark Noon found a way past the Poppies defence on 33 minutes to put his side 1-0 up and Nuneaton held the slender advantage going into the half-time break.

Poppies youth triumph in cup

Well done to Kettering under 16's who twice came from behind to beat opponents Hinckley Utd 3-2 in the Cup Final played at Kidderminster Harriers.

Darren Lynch injury

Poppies top goalscorer Darren Lynch suffered what is reportedly a 'fracture around the knee area' following a collision with the opposition goalkeeper during Saturday's final home game of the season.

Darren already has his leg in plaster and is of course finished playing for the season, whatever the outcome of Kettering's play-off ambitions. We all wish Darren a speedy recovery from injury and hope he'll be back on his feet again soon.

Narrow win puts Poppies back in play-off spot

Kettering Town  2     Runcorn FC Halton   1

Ollie Burgess returned to the Poppies starting lineup and in came Craig McIlwain, with Scott Cross and youngster Daniel Bulley on the subs bench. Darren Lynch and Chris DiFante made up the front pairing for today's crucial final Conference North home game of the season, against visitors Runcorn FC Halton.

What started out as a match already filled with plenty of tension, especially for the home fans, continued to keep the home crowd on edge as the drama unfolded. Top scorer Darren Lynch was carried off the field after suffering a suspected broken leg injury and was replaced with youngster Scott Cross.

Wilson signs new contract

Poppies boss Kevin Wilson has signed a new 12-month rolling contract to manage Kettering Town through next season, replacing the previous 3-month rolling contract covering the period since he first took over at Rockingham Road on Boxing Day 2003.

Hopefully, the announcement will now end recent speculation linking the Poppies boss with all and any management vacancy that becomes open.

Poor Poppies lose at Hucknall

Hucknall Town  2     Kettering Town   1

Kettering made one change to their starting lineup at Hucknall brought about by Ollie Burgess' absence, in comes Scott Cross, with Darren Lynch and Chris Difante again starting up front for the Poppies at Watnall Road.

Perhaps no surprise to Poppies supporters as the first-half came to a close without a goal. Both sides trying to create chances, but neither team able to find the finishing touch to break the deadlock and they went into the changing rooms at half-time still all-square at 0-0.

Poppies survive late scare to win at Celtic

Stalybridge Celtic  1     Kettering Town  2

The only change to the Poppies starting lineup for tonight's match at the Bower Fold was the return of top scorer Darren Lynch, in place of Saturday's goalscorer Daniel Bulley, partnering youngster Chris DiFante up front.

Kettering took the game to their opponents in the opening 45 minutes showing a little more urgency than of late and were rewarded by going into the half-time break 1-0 up courtesy of a strike by youngster Chris Difante.

Bulley rescues a point for poor Poppies at Trinity

Gainsborough Trinity   1     Kettering Town   1

Kevin Wilson made two changes to the Poppies starting lineup at Gainsborough, Daniel Bulley replaces Scott Cross and Jamie Patterson also returns, with Stefan Morley starting on the substitutes bench.

A very cautious first 45 minutes with very few chances for either side led to a 0-0 scoreline at the break. Perhaps a reflection of what's happening elsewhere in the league, as only 5 goals total have been scored so far in all Conference North matches today.