Cooper signs new deal at Kettering

Mark Cooper has signed a new two-year deal to remain as manager of Kettering Town the club announced today, ending several days of speculation as to whether the Poppies boss would continue at the helm for next season.

Cooper can now turn his attention to who will be on the retained list for the Poppies next season and identify possible new signing targets for the start of the new campaign in the Blue Square Premier next season.

Weekend of celebrations for Kettering Town

Following the fantasy-like ending to Saturday's final match of the regular season, the weekend continued in a festive spirit for the club and it's jubilant supporters. Thousands turned out to line the streets and cheer as the open-top bus wound it's way from the football ground to the town centre.

Once the bus reached it's destination the players, BSN Trophy in tow, went into the Newlands centre to chat to fans and sign autographs, no doubt enjoying the celebratory atmosphere that comes with a successful championship win and promotion.

Monday night kept the weekend momentum going with a match against Oxford Utd to support Brett Solkhon's Testamonial season:

Half-time score: Kettering Town 2 Oxford Utd 3

Brett Solkhon scored Kettering's first from the penaly spot and David Bridges scored the Poppies second goal. Midway through the second-half and Jon Brady scored to make it 3-3.

Full-time score: Kettering Town 3 Oxford Utd 4

Manager Cooper scores winner as Poppies beat Gainsborough Trinity

Kettering Town 2
Solkhon 62
Cooper 90

Gainsborough Trinity 1
Reeves 75 (pen)

Kettering Town host Gainsborough Trinity in their final match of the BSN season and it's a last chance for the fans to see the champions in action before they head into the summer break.

The two teams settle early into the match and a Brady cross that Beardsley heads just over the crossbar is the first effort on goal. With just seven minutes gone an injury to Nicky Eaden leads to his replacement by David Galbraith. At the other ends Callery's ball in is comfortably dealt with by Harper.

Kettering continue to press as Marna shrugs off a defender but shoots too close to Sollitt, while a Kemp cross is met by Bridges but his header is too high. A bit of a lull in the match is interrupted by a fierce drive from Bird but Harper pulls off another excellent save to keep the score 0-0 on 22 minutes. Bird must have picked up a knock as he's soon replaced by Reeves for Trinity midway through the first period.

On the half-hour mark and Fallon has the ball in the net but the Trinity striker's celebrations are cut short with an offside flag ruling out the effort. Otherwise the match has is showing signs of end of season laid-back action. As Kettering clear a rare corner Beardsley is replaced by Robinson with 10 minutes still to go before the break.

Half-time: Kettering Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Poppies win 2-0 at Redditch Utd

Redditch Utd 0

Kettering Town 2
Westcarr 23
Galbraith 30

Mark Cooper rallies his troops for Kettering Town's final away fixture of the season with the relatively short trip to the Valley Stadium to take on Redditch Utd. The Poppies are looking to beat Northwich Victoria's record of 92 points, set by the Vics during their 2005-06 championship season.

A good start for the Poppies bid to capture the record points total in BSN and an excellent late season run of goalscoring form for Craig Westcarr who nets his 13th league goal of the season to put Kettering 1-0 up on 23 minutes. Approaching the half-hour mark and Kettering increase their lead to 2-0 when an excellent strike by David Galbraith marked his return to the starting lineup with his second goal of the season.

Half-time: Redditch Utd 0 Kettering Town 2

Poppies win 3-1 at home to Workington and collect Championship Trophy

Kettering Town 3
Westcarr 13
Beardsley 20
Solkhon 79

Workington 1
Hardman 86

Saturday's penultimate home fixture against Workington gives the club's supporters the opportunity to see Kettering Town presented with the Championship Trophy for winning the Blue Square North title.

Both teams straight into the action as first Workington and then Kettering fire their opening salvoes in the first few minutes of the match. On 13 minutes the home side scored first, taking a 1-0 the lead through Craig Westcarr from close-in.

The action continued with Marna curling a shot just wide and then Anthony denied an equaliser by an alert defence. Kettering went 2-0 up when Chris Beardsley headed home on 20 minutes. MckLuckie came close again for the visitors, before Kettering pressed for a third, but in a five minute spell before the break, Beardsley, Dempster and Brady all saw efforts fly the wrong side of the posts.

Half-time: Kettering Town 2 Workington 0

Tale of Two penalties as Poppies draw 1-1 at Barrow

Barrow 1
Thompson (pen) 69

Kettering Town 1
Beardsley (pen) 33

Kettering Town made a third trip North to Holker Street to play a twice postponed league match, in which the consequences of the result had significantly changed since the original fixture date.

With the title already secured, the pressure was off the Poppies at this stage of the season, but Barrow are now right in amongst the teams battling for a play-off spot to decide who joins Kettering in the BSP next season. Cooper brought in goalkeeper Nick Bussey, Luke Graham and David Galbriath, as Stuart Dorrill joined the Poppies bench.

A good reception for Kettering from the home side and fans as both teams quick to settle on a sunny evening with a firmer pitch than of late and Kettering get an early free-kick but Westcarr's effort sails harmlessly over the bar with 5 minutes gone. Demspter picks up and early yellow card but the Barrow free-kick comes to nothing.

Branston headed into the box from a Dempster cross and the balls comes out to Solkhon but his header is easily collected by Deasy in the home goal. Barrow came close as Boyd picked out McNulty in the box but couldn't steer his downward header inside the post. A corner for Kettering is scrambled behind and from the second ball into the box the Poppies are awarded a penalty kick when Dempster is fouled, up stepped Chris Beardsley to put Kettering 1-0 up from the spot on 33 minutes.

The home side almost forced an equaliser minutes later but a soild header by Jones rebounds off the crossbar and is scrambled clear by the Poppies defence. Another close call for Kettering and a last-ditch goal-line clearance from a Jones strike keeps the Poppies 1-0 lead intact. Westcarr puts through Beardsley but the final strike by Solkhon is high and harmlessly sails over the crossbar.

Half-time: Barrow 0 Kettering Town 1

Robinson strike seals Poppies win at Southport

Southport 0

Kettering Town 1
Robinson 63

Soon to be officially crowned Blue Square North Champions Kettering Town traveled to Haig Avenue to take on Southport with Galbraith, Mills and Graham in the Poppies starting lineup.

Early pressure comes in from the home side as Blakeman fires one wide of Harper's upright, but Kettering counter and Robinson was just caught offside collecting a cross from Galbraith. Twenty minutes gone and the match hasn't really fired yet as Kettering are taking their time about this one. Branston heads clear from a Rae header and that's about as close as it's been in the first 35 minutes of a so far dull encounter.

Mark Cooper did mention earlier in the week that some of the players would be playing for their contracts next season, however at this point the Poppies boss will certainly need to fire up the team for the second period as the first 45 minutes was as dire as they come.

Half-time: Southport 0 Kettering Town 0

CHAMPIONS !! - Robinson double gives Poppies 3-0 win over AFC Telford Utd

Kettering Town 3
Robinson 10, 25
Bridges 86

AFC Telford Utd 0

Kettering Town take on 3rd-placed AFC Telford Utd this Saturday at the A-Line Arena, looking to bounce back from last week's poor performance which resulted in the Poppies first reverse in six matches. Poppies boss Mark Cooper swaps out Beardsley for Marna and Galbraith joins the bench.

A great start for the Poppies in this top-of-the table clash, as Anthony Robinson scores his first goal for Kettering, a superb finish to give the home side a 1-0 lead on ten minutes.

The attacking trio up front for the Poppies have been pulling the visitor's defence all over the place and Westcarr broke down the line, crossed for the lively Anthony Robinson who fired home to put Kettering 2-0 up on 25 minutes and well in control at this point in the match.

With seven minutes left to the break, Telford make a tactical substitution to try and give some respite to their beleagured defence and fight their way back into this match. Kettering corner not cleared and Westcarr crossed for Bridges who fired narrowly wide of the goalpost. The home side well worth their 2-0 lead and have been fired up from the start today.

Half-time: Kettering Town 2 Telford Utd 0

Westcarr wins BSN Player of the Month award

Craig Westcarr was awarded the Blue Square North Player of the Month award for March following the six goals scored by the Poppies striker in the first four games. Craig will be presented with the award before the home game against AFC Telford Utd this Saturday.

The manager of the month award went to Barrow's joint management team of Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan following a recent run of 12 matches unbeaten that has seen them climb the BSN table with a late play-off challenge. Their seven March fixtures produced 6 wins and 1 draw, scoring 12 goals and keeping 5 clean sheets in the process.