Poppies comeback complete in dramatic 3-2 win at Harrogate

Kettering Town 3
Westcarr 23
Abbey
Marna 87

Harrogate Town 2
Jackson 3
Dunning 29

Kettering Town goalkeeper Mark Osborn was deemed fit enough to play, but Serge Makofo replaced the injured Andy Hall in midfield, Liam Nicell slotted into the defence along with Moses Olaleye, with Parys Okai on the bench.

It took Harrogate just 3 minutes to find the Poppies much-maligned defence wanting as Kirk Jackson gave the home side an early 1-0 lead and Kettering's already difficult task became even tougher. Kettering slowly worked their way back into the match but still looked shaky at the back whenever they came under pressure.

On 23 minutes Poppies got back on level terms as Boucaud put in Craig Westcarr who broke clear and finished with aplomb to make it 1-1 at Wetherby Rd. Seconds later almost a copycat move as Westcarr broke again but this time goalkeeper Lindley managed to scramble the ball out for a corner which was cleared by the home side.

Jekyll and Hyde Poppies pegged back at home by winless Lancaster

Kettering Town 3
Solkhon 49
Abbey 56
Boucaud 73

Lancaster City 3
Spike 21
Dodgson 47
Beasley 80

Morrell Maison was forced into one of the two changes as the injured Mark Osborn was replaced by Luke McShane in the Kettering goal. The other change brought new signing David Perpetuini straight into the lineup and Adam Fry came onto the bench.

A reasonably quiet start as the home side continued to struggle to find their preseason form and found it hard to break through a Lancaster defence that came determined to avoid a 5th defeat in-a-row at Rockingham Road and the match remained goaless after 20 minutes.

All that changed just 60 seconds later when the visitors took the lead as a Bayliss - Dodgson buildup was comfortably tucked past Luke McShane in the Poppies goal by Lee Spike to put the Dolly Blues 1-0 up. The home side seemed unable to shake off their recent malaise and finished the first 45 minutes still trailing and looking more like the 'winless' team than their very confident visitors.

Maison signs experienced defender

Poppies boss Morrell Maison has turned to experienced defender David Perpetuini to try and resolve the problems with the frailty in his sides defence, emphatically exposed during the recent back-to-back defeats.

The 26 year-old Perpetuini, who has had spells at League clubs Watford, Gillingham, Wycombe and Walsall, spent last season was at Conference North outfit Stevenage Borough and will likely go straight into the starting lineup for Saturday's home fixture against Lancaster City.

Maison also hinted that he may change his preferred 3-5-2 formation for a 4-4-2 lineup, "You don't have to be Einstein to know it needs addressing. If that means we need to go to a four at the back and change our shape then that's what we will do. I am not going to be bloody minded and say that just because my preferred option is three at the back I am not going to change it."

Spluttering Poppies struggle to home defeat

Kettering Town 1
Westcarr 35

Hinckley Utd 2
Jackson 68
Story 85

Kettering Town manager Morrell Maison made only one change to the starting lineup with Rene Howe replacing Moses Olaleye who started on the subs bench alongside Jean-Paul Marna.

The visitors kept the Poppies at bay until the 35th minute when Craig Westcarr put the home side 1-0 up and Kettering held their narrow lead going into the half-time break.

Lacklustre Poppies lose 2-0 at Workington

Workington 2
Wright 4
Nicholson 77

Kettering Town 0

Poppies boss Morrell Maison fielded the same starting lineup for the third match in-a-row as Kettering took on Workington at a very wet Borough Park.

Kettering were caught napping and got got off to a disastrous start when Anthony Wright put the home side 1-0 up just 4 minutes into the match. Jean-Paul Marna replaced Parys Okai in an early substitution by Morrell Maison shortly after the half-hour mark.

Despite several chances for Kettering, with the help of Reds agile goalkeeper Adam Collin the home side continued to deny the Poppies an equaliser going into the half-time break and held onto their slender 1-0 lead.

Workington still held onto their early lead going into the final quarter as Kettering couldn't find their finishing touch in front of the Reds goal and goalkeeper Collins stopped everything on target. Poppies boss Maison made his final changes as Rene Howe and Serge Makofo came on to replace Zema Abbey and Moses Olaleye for the final push.

Westcarr off but 10-man Poppies win at Hucknall

Kettering Town 2
Westcarr 8
Marna 80
Westcarr - sent off

Hucknall Town 1
Moore 50

Kettering Town manager Morrell Maison takes his team into their first away match of the season, a trip to Watnall Road to face ex-Poppies manager Kevin Wilson's Hucknall Town.

The Poppies lineup is the same one that started Saturday's match against Hyde Utd, with Zema Abbey again partnering Craig Westcarr upfront.

Kettering got off to a great start when a foul on Andy Hall on the edge of the area was deemed inside by the offical who promptly pointed to the penalty spot. Craig Westcarr stepped up and cleanly dispatched the penalty kick to give Kettering a 1-0 lead after 8 minutes.

Poppies off to a winning start

Kettering Town 1
Zema Abbey 45

Hyde Utd 0

Kettering Town's new signing Abbey Zema went straight into the starting lineup upfront alongside Craig Westcarr, with Rene Howe and Jean-Paul Marna on the bench for today's opening Conference North fixture at home to Hyde Utd.

The wait for the much-traveled striker to committ to the club appeared well worth it as Zema Abbey headed Kettering into a 1-0 lead seconds before the break, which the home side still held going into half-time.

Kettering plugged away to try and add to their slender lead in the second-half but a stubborn visiting defence held any further scoring at bay. However, Abbey's first-half strike was enough to claim 3pts and get the Poppies off to a winning start.

Att: 1,208

Kettering: Osborn, Olaleye, Koo-Boothe, Graham, Solkhon, McIlwain, Boucaud, Hall, Okai, Zema, Westcarr. Subs: Marna, Howe, Nicell, Makofo, Bussey,

Hyde: Dootson, Smith, Pickford, Harrison, Seddon, Adams, Hill, Flynn, Davis, Wharton, Prince. Subs: Johnson, Lynch, Carnell, Caldercott, Rick.

Abbey signs for Poppies

Ex-Norwich City striker Zema Abbey has finally put pen to paper for Kettering Town and will be available for today's match at Rockingahm Road against Hyde Utd.

Poppies held at Boro

Kettering Town ended their pre-season campaign in similar fashion to the way they started it, with a hard-fought draw.

The Poppies fell behind to their Conference National hosts following a long-range free-kick from Miller on 37 mins, but struck back when Zema Abbey latched onto a through ball from early substitute Jean-Paul Marna to pull his side level at 1-1 after 43 mins.

Kettering then took the lead during a second-half full of early confidence when Andre Boucaud scored with (what is already becoming) one of his trademark strikes to make it 2-1 after 51 mins.

Despite several chances to wrap up the match, Kettering conceded an equaliser when failing to clear a cross and Stevenage's Fuller scored on 72 mins to claim a share of the spoils for the hosts as the match ended 2-2.

Kettering: Osborn, Koo-Boothe, McIlwain, Graham, Hall, Boucaud, Solkhon, Okai, Olaleye (Makofo 55 mins), Howe (Marna 30 mins), Abbey (Westcarr 78 mins).

Stevenage: Potter (Julian 61 mins), Fuller, Oliver, Henry, Gaia, Nutter, Dobson, Miller (Bulman 61 mins), Hicks (Boyd 46 mins), Nurse, Thorpe (Phillips 61 mins).

Poppies comeback from 2-0 down against Man Utd Res to earn a draw

Kettering Town's final pre-season home fixture against Manchester Utd's Reserve side ended in a 2-2 draw at Rockingham Road tonight, with the Poppies goals scored by Andre Boucaud and Andy Hall.

The visitors opened up a 2-0 lead over the Poppies via Danny Rose (10 mins) and Fraizer Campbell (14 mins), but Andre Boucaud reduced the deficit with a well-executed goal sixty-seconds later and Andy Hall smashed home an equaliser two minutes into the second-half to earn a well-deserved draw at the final whistle.

Att: 2,040

Kettering: Osborn, Koo-Boothe (Burrows 64 mins), McIlwain, Graham, Hall, Boucaud (Morley 86 mins), Solkhon, Okai, Olaleye, Abbey (Makofo 86 mins), Howe (Marna 58 mins).

Manchester United Res: Heaton, Gray, Evans, Shawcross, Lee, Mullan, Rose (Burns 80 mins), N'galula (Gibson 68 mins), Evans (Barnes 61 mins), Hewson (Marsh 46 mins), Campbell.