Lacklustre Poppies lose 2-0 at Blyth Spartans

Blyth Spartans 2
Webster 20, 33

Kettering Town 0

Poppies boss Mark Cooper has made just one change to Monday's starting lineup, Nicky Eaden replaces Tom Kemp at Croft Park against the Spartans. Kettering Town are just two wins away from clinching the Blue Square North Championship, regardless of what other teams do in their remaining league fixtures.

The match started in wet blustery conditions, both teams taking time to settle down and not much in the way of action for either goalkeeper to deal with in the early stages as Kettering came closest with a Jaszczun strike that went just wide of the goalpost with 10 minutes gone.

Twenty minutes gone and a pretty even match, however news filtered in that Barrow are beating Telford 1-0 at the new Bucks head ground and almost at the same time Blyth took the lead with a strike from Adam Webster that flew past a stranded Harper. Ironically, Telford are now 2-0 down at home to Barrow.

It certainly looks as though Kettering will not be taking advantage as they fall 2-0 behind when Adam Webster latches onto a ball cutback from the goal-line to again beat poor Harper with ease. At this point it's the home side who look comfortably in control and Kettering who are struggling to cope in the wet blustery conditions.

Not much going right for Kettering as a Branston headed goal is ruled out by the referee when he decided that Demspter had fouled a defender in the buildup, still 2-0 to Blyth approaching half-time. Kettering could easily have fallen further behind before the break but the Spartans spurned good scoring opportunities and the half-time whistle sounded with the score remaining 2-0 to the home side.

Half-time: Blyth Spartans 2 Kettering Town 0

Dempster goal enough to bring Poppies title dreams another step closer

Boston Utd 0

Kettering Town 1
Dempster 34

Kettering Town manager Mark Cooper made one change from Saturday's starting lineup with Tom Kemp replacing Nicky Eaden and Sam Shilton joined the bench, as the Poppies hope to continue their title charge at York Street against old foes Boston Utd.

Wet conditions underfoot following recent snow that gave way to sunshine shortly before kick-off could prove tricky for both sides as the match gets underway at York Street with a large contingent making the trip from Kettering to cheer on their team.

The home side force the early play with an effort that skims the woodwork, while at the other end Westcarr regains his footing to force a save out of Wright in the Pilgrims goal. Both sides continuing to try and gain the upperhand but neither able to provide that vital breakthrough with 15 minutes gone on the clock.

The tempo has slowed a little after the busy opening period as both sides settle into their normal styles of play. Midway through the first-half as Beardsley collects a pass from Bridges, shrugs off a defender and fires just over the crossbar.

Just when the match appeared to be getting a little scrappy, Kettering force a corner and John Dempster is on hand to put the Poppies 1-0 up 34 minutes into the first period and send the large travelling support into jubilant celebrations.

Boston trying to get back into the match before the break but Harper is alert to deny ex-Poppy Rowan as the snow begins to fall again. A late scare as Harper and Branston compete to clear but as the half-time whistle sounds it's still Kettering leading thanks to the goal from Dempster.

Half-time: Boston Utd 0 Kettering Town 1

Poppies 3-2 win at home to Nuneaton Borough brings the title almost within reach

Kettering Town 3
Westcarr 5
Beardsley 45
Brady 75

Nuneaton Borough 2
Rodman 10
Taylor 82

Kettering Town host Nuneaton Borough in the first of two matches in three days that could hopefully take the Poppies a lot closer to realising their goal of winning the BSN title at the end of the season. However, neither Boro, or Monday's opponents Boston Utd will be making it easy on Mark Cooper's men.

A lively opening period and a great start for Kettering as a Beardsley cross found Craig Westcarr who fired home to give the home side a 1-0 lead on 5 minutes. The home crowd celebrations had hardly subsided when Kettering were caught napping at a corner and Alex Rodman stabbed in from close range to make it 1-1 just 5 minutes later.

The weather alternating between sunshine and hail as both sides look prepared to committ bodies forward and as expected, Kettering know they have a game on their hands against a determined Boro'. Successive corners fail to provide an opening and Bridges is denied by the alert Acton in the Boro' goal midway through the first period.

Another acrobatic save from Acton pushing a Bridges drive onto the woodwork and despite bundling the ball in from the resulting corner the referee rules it out for a foul. On the stroke of half-time, Chris Beardsley finds space in the area, takes the ball round the keeper and fires into an empty net to give Kettering a 2-1 lead.

Half-Time: Kettering Town 2 Nuneaton Borough 1

Poppies closing in on the title with 3-0 win at Hyde

Hyde Utd 0

Kettering Town 3
Solkhon 60
Bridges 68
Westcarr 77

Kettering Town manager Mark Cooper had an extra day to prepare his players for their BSN league match away to Hyde Utd this Sunday, with the Poppies closest rivals closing the gap to just 1pt yesterday, Kettering will be hoping to take advantage of one of their 3 games in-hand and extend their lead again as Mark Cooper introduces Anthony Robinson into the Poppies starting lineup.

A slow start to the match for Kettering with the home side having the better of the early exchanges and the woodwork preventing Hyde from taking an early lead. It took the Poppies time to settle but with 20 minutes gone they were finally making inroads to the home defence.

Tipton and Clee looked very lively for the visitors, putting themselves about in the Poppies penalty area and were a handful for a hardworking Kettering defence during the first 45 minutes. Kettering had few direct chances leading up to half-time and Dootson dealt comfortably with any that ended up on target.

Half-time: Hyde Utd 0 Kettering Town 0

Westcarr double seals 3-0 win for Poppies at home to Worcester City

Kettering Town 3
Brady 19
Westcarr 81, 90

Worcester City 0

Kettering Town manager Mark Cooper made one change in his starting lineup against Worcester City, David Bridges returned from injury to replace Gary Mills. The now familiar trio of Jean-Paul Marna, Chris Beardsley and Craig Westcarr again lead the Poppies attack.

A fairly quiet start to the match at the A-Line Arena with plenty of running around but not much in the way of genuine chances created as the first 15 minutes comes to a close. All that changed a few minutes later when Jon Brady fired the Poppies in front from a free-kick on 19 minutes. With the deadlock broken, the match strangely settled back into the earlier pattern with both sides not really penetrating the other's defence with any purpose.

The match almost sparked into life shortly after the half-hour mark as Craig Westcarr broke through the visitor's backline, but with the keeper to beat the Poppies striker fired into the side netting. Worcester start to make inroads themselves but the home defence is equal to the threat so far and with 5 minutes to half-time the Poppies still holding onto their slender 1-goal advantage. Solkhon almost makes it two at the end of the first period but his effort is cleared off the line.

Half-time: Kettering Town 1 Worcester City 0