Poppies win 2-0 at Trinity but play-off hopes ended

Gainsborough Trinity 0

Kettering Town 2
Zico-Black 9
Koo-Boothe 63

Kettering Town manager Morell Maison made two changes from Monday's starting lineup, bringing in Junior McDougald to replace the suspended Anthony Elding and Jamie Paterson returned in place of Ollie Burgess. Darren Lynch again started on the bench for the Poppies.

Kettering got off to a real flyer at Northolme when a cross into the box was parried by the keeper and Ryan Zico-Black nipped in to head the Poppies into a 1-0 lead after 9 minutes.

Altrincham hammered by Conference

Conference National outfit Altrincham, who were promoted from the Conference North last season via the play-offs, look set for a quick return after they were deducted a massive 18pts by the Conference committee ruling.

The Robins were also fined £1,000 for fielding an eligible player, James Robinson who played 13 matches and scored four goals for the Moss Lane club.

However, it's the points deduction that will really hurt Altrincham as it puts them 12pts adrift at the bottom of the league with just two games left to play and means certain relegation.

Altrincham can of course appeal the ruling to the Football Association, but the FA have already fined both the player and the club and as such are unlikely to intervene in the Conference National's judgement.

Lynch makes scoring comeback as Poppies win 3-0 at home to Nuneaton

Kettering Town 3
Burgess 18
Okai
Lynch 67

Nuneaton Borough 0

Kettering supporters welcomed Darren Lynch back to the first team squad as he took his place alongside Moses Olaleye on the bench. Andy Hall and Ryan Zico-Black came straight back into the starting lineup for the Poppies.

A great start for the home side on 18 minutes when the returning Ollie Burgess put them 1-0 up with a header as the Poppies players seemed to have a point to prove that last Saturday's defeat was the exception in their recent run of good results.

The home side continued to produce the majority of clear cut chances and from an Andy Hall corner Parys Okai volleyed past Darren Acton to make it 2-0 to Kettering at half-time.

The second-half progressed in much the same way as Kettering continued to push forward seeking to kill-off the visitors with a third and secure the vital 3pts.

The home crowd gave Darren Lynch an enthusiastic welcome back when he came on for Serge Makofo and to their even greater delight, Darren Lynch showed he was just as happy to be back by scoring with a header to put the Poppies 3-0 up and well in-command after 67 minutes.

At the final whistle the home side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners and can now only sit back and hope that the teams above them continue to slip up as the race for the play-offs reaches a finale.

Att: 1,205

Kettering: Osborn, Thoebald, McIlwain, Solkhon, Koo-Boothe, Burgess, Hall, Zico-Black, Elding, Okai, Makofo. Subs: Lynch, Bussey, Olaleye, Peter, McDougald.

Nuneaton: Acton, Oddy, Brown, Love, Moore, Reeves, Collins, Noon, Rickards, Staff, Murphy. Subs: Wilkin, Taylor, Foster, Whittaker, Fitzpatrick.

Elding off as Poppies crash at Workshop

Worksop Town 2
Crane 44
Bertos 56

Kettering Town 1
Makofo 29
Elding sent off - 43

Kettering Town traveled to Worksop Town knowing that a 5th win in-a-row was virtually a must for the Poppies to ensure their chances of capitalising on any further slip-ups by Harrogate Town or Droylsden in the race for the Conference North play-offs.

Kettering started well with the returning Nathan Koo-Boothe in midfield and Andy Hall sat on the bench alongside Junior McDougald and Chris DiFante.

It took almost a half-hour before Kettering made the breakthrough when Serge Makofo scored his first goal for the Poppies to put them 1-0 up.

Poppies make it 4 wins in-a-row

Kettering Town 1
Alfreton Town 0

A header from defender David Theobald on 84 minutes made it 4 wins in-a-row for Kettering Town at Rockingham Road on Tuesday night against a determined Alfreton Town.

Att: 918

Kettering: Osborn, Diuk, Theobald, McIlwain, Solkhon, Olaleye, Burgess, Paterson, Makofo, Okai, Elding. Subs: Nicell, McDougald, Bussey, Peters, Zico-Black.

Alfreton: Rayner, Howard, Stevens, Clarke, Robinson, Featherstone, Turner, Fisher, Nwadike, Rankine, Litchfield. Subs: Godber, Mills, Powell, Bodkin, Harcort.

The narrow victory moves Kettering back into 6th spot and keeps them in touch with 5th-placed Harrogate Town who won 2-0 at home to Gainsborough Trinity.

Poppies win1-0 at Barrow

Barrow 0

Kettering Town 1
Elding 18

Kettering make the long trip to Barrow this Saturday hoping to continue their mini-run of back-to-back wins, 3-1 away against Stafford Rangers and more recently, 1-0 at home over Vauxhall Motors.

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Lynchy returns to the action

Darren Lynch made a long awaited return to football action on Wednesday night, turning out for Kettering Town Reserves at home to Worcester City Reserves and even scored a goal.

Junior McDougald also provided a boost for the Poppies, scoring the first on 21 minutes. Darren Lynch made it 2-1 to Kettering six minutes later, before being substituted on the hour mark after a slight knock.

The other goalscorers were Steve Goode twice and one from Emmanuel Adeseko in the latter stages to secure a convincing 5-1 victory.

Solkhon strike enough for Poppies

Kettering Town 1
Solkhon 45

Vauxhall Motors 0

Poppies boss Morell Maison thrust both new signings straight into today's lineup, Serge Makofo displaces Liam Nicell and Parys Okai replaces Anthoy Elding who started on the subs bench.

A frustrating first period for the home fans as it looked likely they wouldn't see a goal before half-time with the Poppies seemingly unable to find a away past the visitor's defence.

All that changed right on the stroke of half-time when Brett Solkhon sent his side into the dressing rooms with a narrow 1-0 lead.

Poppies sign duo

Kettering Town announced the signings of Parys Okai and Serge Makofo, a left sided wing-back and a striker repsectively.

20 year-old Okai was signed from Hitchin Town after joining the Canaries in December 2005, he previously had spells at Cambridge Utd and Luton Town. Striker Makofo was signed from MK Dons after starting his career with them as a trainee in 2004.