Poppies 3-2 win at home to Nuneaton Borough brings the title almost within reach
Kettering Town 3 Nuneaton Borough 2 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 Kettering back into the second-half action early and Acton again makes an excellent save to deny another goal for the Poppies, this time from a Brady strike. Approaching the midway point of the second-half and the visitors are starting to put pressure on the home defence searching for an equaliser. After weathering the storm, the Poppies storm back into the match with 15 minutes left when the hard-working Beardsley crosses for Jon Brady to make it 3-1 to Kettering and send the home fans back into celebratory mood. Mills comes on for Westcarr as the match enters the final ten minutes. The match isn't over yet though as the visitors pull a goal back after a free-kick just outside the Kettering box allows Robert Taylor to make it 3-2 and we're in for a hectic last few minutes. Robinson is denied twice by Acton as Kettering bounce back at the other end. Mills booked as we head into time added-on. The final whistle signals an excellent win for Kettering and with the news that nearest rivals Telford were hammered at home the title surely beckons for the Poppies now as they head into another tough fixture away to Boston Utd on Monday. Att: 1,741 Kettering: Harper, Eaden, Jaszczun, Dempster, Branston, Brady, Solkhon, Bridges, Westcarr, Robinson, Beardsley. Subs: Graham, Mills, Bussey, Marna, Kemp. Nuneaton: Acton, Travis, Moore, Cowan, McIlwain, Taylor, Collins, Curtis, Palmer, Brown, Rodman. Subs: Noon, Williams, Pritchard, Edmond. March 19, 2008
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