Westcarr double puts Poppies back on top with 2-1 win at Tamworth

Tamworth 1
Nurse 50

Kettering Town 2
Westcarr 26, 84

Kettering Town boss Mark Cooper returned to familiar territory to his face his former charges Tamworth, in the Poppies' last match of 2007 and again shuffled his squad. Jon Brady made way for Sam Shilton and with Jazszcun out, Andy Hall also started for the Poppies.

The two teams quickly got into the action with Gary Mills getting on the wrong side of the referee for an early booking and a quick substitution for Kettering when Jon Brady replaced Nicky Eaden after just 22 minutes. Less than five minutes later and Kettering were in front courtesy of Craig Westcarr's second goal of the season on 26 minutes, curled into the net from the edge of the area. Ironically, the last time Westcarr scored was the reverse fixture between these two sides way back in August.

Another early substitution for Kettering following an injury to Mark Rawle forced Poppies boss Cooper into bringing on Jean-Paul Marna from the bench after 38 minutes of the first period. Kettering were still holding onto their slender lead going into the half-time break as John Dempster joined Mills in the referee's notebook and was perhaps fortunate not to be sent-off.

Half-time: Tamworth 0 Kettering Town 1

Poppies win 3-1 at Solihull Moors to go second in table

Solihull Moors 1
Middleton pen 41

Kettering Town 3 
Dempster 20
Kemp 27
Ghent og 55

Kettering Town boss Mark Cooper took his squad on the short trip to Damson Park hoping to avenge the defeat suffered at the hands of the Moors earlier in the season that knocked the Poppies out of the FA Cup.

Any thoughts of a goal-fest were cut short as the home side re-gathered their composure and came back at Kettering creating several good chances before they pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on 41 minutes when Darren Middleton converted following a challenge from Dempster that brought down Davidson in the box to make it 2-1 to Kettering at the break.

Half-time: Solihull Moors 1 Kettering Town 2

Bridges double sees Poppies 3-0 winners at home to Leigh RMI

For those who thought the second-period might bring about a change of fortunes for Kettering their hopes were quickly dashed on the hour mark as the Lilywhites went 3-0 up through top-scorer Michael Gash and looked to be in complete control against a very ineffective Poppies side who were so far, just not at the races today.

Falling 3-0 behind appeared to finally wake Kettering up and they did manage to get a goal back with 20 minutes remaining of the tie when Mark Rawle slotted home from the penalty spot, but after playing so poorly early on it looked sadly like a case of too little too late at 3-1 down to be able to get back into the this one.

With just five minutes left the home side must have started to get the jitters as Kettering reduced the deficit again through Gary Mills first goal for the club and now trailed by a single goal at 3-2 to set up a tense finish for what earlier had seemed a very one-sided tie.

Unfortunately Kettering had left it too late and the final whistle ended any hopes of salvaging a draw and the Poppies' interest in another competition had ended in the early stages with a 3-2 defeat at BSS outfit Cambridge City.

Att: 531

Poppies crash out 3-2 at Cambridge City - FA Trophy 1st Round

Cambridge City 3
Midgley 7
Fuller 35
Gash 60

Kettering Town 2
Rawle pen 71
Mills 85

Kettering Town made the relatively short trip to the City Ground to face Blue Square South outfit Cambridge City in the First Round of the FA Trophy and boss Mark Cooper has opted to start youngster Ryan Collis and David Bridges starts on the bench.

Kettering got off to a bad start in this FA Trophy 1st Round tie as a defensive mix-up lead to an early goal for the Lilywhites who went 1-0 up after just 7 minutes on the clock courtesy of ex-Poppy striker Neil Midgley.

Worse was to come for the traveling Poppies faithful as their team fell further behind on 35 minutes when Ashely Fuller scored for the home side and unless it turned out be a more-determined effort from Kettering in the second-half it looked increasingly like they were headed out of the Trophy after already trailing 2-0 at the break.

Half-time: Cambridge City 2 Kettering Town 0

Poppies v Halesown in friendly - recent player moves

Wednesday night sees Kettering Town take on Halesowen Town in a friendly arranged to give some of the players a run-out following their postponed match due to a waterlogged pitch at Holker Street last Saturday. The fixture will mean the return of several familiar faces including the management team of Morell Maison and Darren Caskey currently in charge at The Grove.

The friendly fixture could also see the first match in a Poppies shirt for recent signing Sam Shilton. The son of former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton made the switch from fellow BSN outfit Hinckley Utd last week. The experienced midfielder started his career at Plymouth Argyle and following spells at Coventry City, Hartlepool and Kidderminster Harriers he signed for Burton Ablion, where he stayed for a season before moving to the Knitters two seasons ago.

The club also announced the recent departures of Joe Howe and Rashid Kamara.

Update: Kettering Town 2 Halesowen Town 0

A goal in each half, the first a penalty on the stroke of half-time converted by Mark Rawle, the second a strike by Ryan Collis which went in off the post in the 61st minute were enough to secure victory for the Poppies on a freezing night watched by 63 hardy spectators. Sam Shilton played for Kettering following his recnt move from the Knitters.

Poppies crash out of Setanta Shield 3rd Round at home to Hinckley Utd

Kettering Town 2
Marna 12, 70

Hinckley Utd 4
Kelly 17
Edwards 27, 100
Story 118

Kettering Town welcomed fellow BSN outfit Hinckley Utd to the A-Line Stadium for their Setanta Shield 3rd Round fixture.

Kettering off to a great start when Jean-Paul Marna put the home side 1-0 up after 12 minutes gone, but their lead was shortlived as Leon Kelly headed home an equaliser for Hinckley from a Luke Edwards cross to make it 1-1. Worse was to come for the home fans as Luke Edwards turned from provider to scorer and the Knitters went 2-1 up on 27 minutes.

Half-Time: Kettering Town 1 Hinckley Utd 2

Brady saves point for stuttering Poppies at Burscough

Burscough 1
Kilheeny 68

Kettering Town 1
Brady 75

Kettering Town made the trip to Victoria Park to face Burscough for the first time in a League fixture and Poppies boss Mark Cooper drafted midfielder Rashid Kamara onto the bench alongside Marna, with Westcarr, Burton and Rawle in attack.

A fairly quiet opening period with Kettering pushing forward early and taking the game to the home side, but with 30 minutes of the first-half gone the Poppies were still unable to break the deadlock.

The home side putting up far more resistance and looking a lot more solid in defence than their previous effort of conceding 4 goals on Tuesday night away to Barrow and at the end of the first period the score remained goaless.