Poppies win 3-1 at home to Harrogate Town to remain top

Kettering Town 3
Howe 5
Marna 37
Hall 65

Harrogate Town 1
Holland 45

Morell Maison was forced into a change to his starting lineup as Perpetuini is injured and the Poppies boss opted for an attacking option by bringing in Andy Hall with Moses Olaleye joining the bench for today's crunch clash against 3rd-placed Harrogate Town.

Kettering off to a great start at Rockingham Road as they took the lead after just 5 minutes gone on the clock following a disastrous mistake by the visiting keeper that left Rene Howe with the ball at his feet and the Poppies top scorer made no mistake . Not much to choose between the two sides after 20 minutes gone with both teams still settling into their respective rythmns and Kettering gradually building up through midfield trying to create an opening.

Kettering beginning to press the visitor's defence more and trying to increase their slender advantage but the Harrogate keeper was making up for his earlier error. He could do nothing however on 37 minutes as a corner was forced across the line by Jean-Paul Marna to make it 2-0 to Kettering.

Already looking to their half-time cuppa, the Poppies defence switched off too soon and allowed the visitors to pull a goal back in stoppage time of the first-half as Danny Holland directed a shot into the roof of the net to make 2-1 to Kettering.

Half-time: Kettering Town 2   Harrogate Town 1

A quiet start to the first-half as Kettering need to regain the momentum lost after conceding a goal, arguably against the run-of-play, on the stroke of half-time. A poor Craig McIlwain header went wide of the post after a corner from Caskey left the Poppies defender completely unmarked.

With the home side pressing for a third goal which would possibly deflate the opposition's confidence, the breakthrough came on 65 minutes when Andy Hall scored a clinical finish past Lindley to make it 3-1 to Kettering.

Harrogate continued to battle away and Osborn had to look lively to save from the feet of Holland on 70 minutes and despite Kettering being 2-goals up the game was certainly not yet over going into the final quarter. Perhaps mindful of recent late lapses at home, Kettering made sure there would be no late comeback from their visitors as the final minutes ticked away.

At the final whistle it was a better performance than of late as Kettering finished 3-1 winners and still remain top of the Conference North table going into what will undoutably be another vital clash at Hinckley Utd on Saturday.

Att: 1,651

Kettering: Osborn, Graham, Dempster, McIlwain, Theobald, Caskey, Boucaud, Hall, Marna, Westcarr, Howe. Subs: Olaleye, Bussey, Solkhon, Seanla, Peprah.

Harrogate: Lindley, Price, Merris, Timons, Ellerker, Dunning, Hunter, Philpott, Wood, Bettney, Holland. Subs: Thomas, Smith, McGarry, Webster.