Stony Stratford Town 1
Kettering Town 3

Kettering Town travelled to Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One side Stony Stratford with two teams as manager, Morell Maison gave his strongest side a run-out in the first half and fringe and trial players 45 minutes in the second. Mark Burrows made his first start for Kettering since his move from neighbours, Corby Town.

The Poppies could have had 3 in the opening minutes when Andre Boucaud had an effort saved whilst Andy Hall and Rene Howe came close with powerful drives wide.

The opening goal came soon after when Boucaud threaded an inch perfect pass through to Hall who used his pace to beat the Stony left back before finishing well to put the Poppies one up.

Kettering doubled there lead minutes later when the influential Hall squared a ball to Zema Abbey who scored the easiest goal he will net in a Kettering shirt. Many chances were created by Kettering but not taken.  Last week's hero, Rene Howe done well to turn the Stony defence before firing a weak effort on goal. Kettering played the last five minutes of the first half with 10 men as Zema Abbey picked up a slight knock.

In first half stoppage time the Kettering defence seemed to switch off as Moses Olaleye gifted possession to a Stony forward who fired an effort at Osborn which was saved but the rebound was pounced upon to half the deficit for Stony.

At half time Maison made eleven changes as a mixture of fringe and trial players were introuduced.

The Poppies understandably didn't have as many chances as they did in the first half but Craig Westcarr came close with another blistering freekick and Patrick Noubissie seen a long range effort bounce off the crossbar, whilst Serge Makofo had a strong penalty claim turned down by the unimpressive referee.

The final goal of the game came half way through the second half.  Impressive trialist, Jean-Paul Marna pounced upon a loose ball to fire a shot from 20 yards which the Stony keeper couldn't deal with as the ball crept under his body and into the net.

The referee blew the whistle a few minutes ahead of schedule but considering the Poppies side had trained all day it was a good performance and result.  No doubt that Lincoln City will pose a bigger threat on Saturday at Rockingham Road. Entrance to this fixture is Free for all.

KETTERING 3

Solkhon

Howe 84, 90

PETERBOROUGH 3

Crow

Yeo

Quinn

Rene Howe came off the bench to rescue a draw for Kettering today against Keith Alexander's Peterborough United.  The Posh took the lead early on in the first half when the Poppies' defence remained static as Shane Huke put the ball into the penalty area and despite the presence of McIlwain, Briscoe and Graham, former Norwich City striker, Danny Crow put Posh ahead with a pristine finish from 6 yards.

Peterborough doubled there lead soon after when Simon Yeo tucked away a loose ball in the Poppies' area.

Kettering had 2 good chances before the break.  Moses Olaleye doen well on the right hand side before planting an inch perfect pass across the Posh goal but Craig Westcarr and Zema Abbey couldn't quite get the important touch to bring the Poppies back into the game.  The Poppies came close minutes later when Brett Solkhon was fouled about 30 yards out, Craig Westcarr stepped up and fired a fantastic free-kick that beat the 4 man wall and with Mark Tyler beaten, the ball smashed against the top of the crossbar and over.

In the second half Kettering started the brighter, Andy Hall was unlucky with a powerful drive into the side netting whilst substitute Rene Howe fired just wide soon after.

The first Poppies goal came shortly after.  The influental Hall squared the ball across Tyler's goal, Tyler missed it as did Arber and Westcarr but Poppies workhorse, Brett Solkhon didn't, he fired a powerful shot into the net for the first home goal this pre-season.

The Poppies were playing the better football after an average first period but any hopes of a comeback looked to be banished when Northern Ireland international, James Quinn tapped in after Frys cross was flicked onto Quinn by Kettering-born, Trevor Benjamin.

Reds manager, Morell Maison made two integral changes, strikers Rene Howe and Jean-Paul Marna were introuduced with Craig Westcarr and Zema Abbey departing.

The pair wasted no time warming to the game, Marna used his speed and skill to create an oppurtunity but Andre Boucaud couldn't quite find the finish as he dazzled past former Poppy, Richard Butcher.

On 85 minutes came the goal of the game.  Marna tricked his way around the Posh defender and could have gone down for a free kick but he stayed on his feet and provided a perfect pass for ex Bedford frontrunner Howe who fired the Poppies back into the game.  As the finale was in sight a great passing move from Kettering finished when Parys Okai played a back heel into the feet of Howe who's first touch wasnt the best but he more than made up for it with a simply quite sublime finish.

The full time whistle sounded soon after and Peterborough will be disappointed to lose a 3-1 lead but the Poppies shown more fight and determination which will more than please Maison and Nicholls.

KETTERING 0

NORTHAMPTON 0

Kettering Town dominated this afternoons friendly with neighbours, Northampton Town.  Patrick Peter, Zema Abbey, Moses Olaleye and Andy Hall all had chances to score for the home side whilst former Poppies striker, Scott Cross missed for the Cobblers from just 5 yards with 'keeper, Mark Osborn out of the goal.

League One side, Northampton could never get a grip on the game with Ian Taylor being outshone by Poppies' Trinidadian, Andre Boucaud whilst Andy Kirk and Scott McGleish were controlled by Nathan Koo-Boothe, Craig McIlwain and Luke Graham.  The first real chance of the game was when Kettering trialist, Zema Abbey fired a shot for 18 yards which Mark Bunn unsurely tipped onto the crossbar where the ball bounced 3 times before falling into the hands of the grounded Bunn.  5 minutes later, a through ball by man of the match, Brett Solkhon was pounced on by striker, Patrick Peter but the ball seemed to get stuck under the former TPS striker and was eventually tackled by centre-half, Brett Johnson.  Just before this, Patrick Noubissie saw his long range effort dip over the crossbar. 

The Poppies could have got frustrated but they remained calm and kept the ball moving and chances continued to be created.  Moses Olaleye beat Bojic and Dolman before firing a shot just over the bar.  Seconds later, Cobblers broke and created there opening chance of the game, Danny Mitchell swung a cross in which Craig McIlwain failed to do with, the ball fell to Danny Green who squared the ball to ex Poppy Scott Cross who despite Osborn being level with Green, fired over the bar and into the trees.

Kettering created a couple more half chances, the impressive Rene Howe crossed for Patrick Peter who's header was saved by Bunn and then the consistent performer, Andy Hall beat Dolman to find him self running diaganol towards Bunn's goal but his powerful strike was a whisker wide of the mark.

Substitute, Neil Midgley created a late chance when he turned Dolman to perfection  before shooting in to the corner but again Bunn was equal to it.

At full time, undoubtably the Kettering fans were happier with there performance than the Cobblers fans were of there average performance.

Brett Solkhon recieved man of the match for his battling game in the Poppies midfield.  Andre Boucaud impressed, as did Luke Graham and Zema Abbey.  Craig Westcarr shown glimpses of what we are going to see in the next few months.  Rene Howe, the striker who was wanted by Northampton before he chose to join Kettering. 

Kettering Town 2
Peter 8
Okai 31

Workington 1
Birks 85

Kettering Town finished off their fairly often quoted 'rollercoaster of a season' with a fairly comfortable 2-1 victory over Workington at Rockingham Road and moved back up to 6th spot in the final Conference North table.

Patrick Peter made a rare start for the Poppies and the move paid immediate dividends when Peter found the net to score his first goal for the club after 8 minutes gone.

Kettering increased their lead to 2-0 when Parys Okai scored only his second goal for the Poppies just after the half-hour mark to send them into the break comfortably in the driving seat.

The second-half looked all-but over before the visitors pulled a goal back on 85 minutes when Steve Birks found a way past Mark Osborn to reduce the deficit and the match ended 2-1 to Kettering.

Att: 974

Kettering: Osborn, Morley, Peter, Theobald, McIlwain, Solkhon, Koo-Boothe, Burgess, Hall, McDougald, Okai. Subs: Lynch, Zioc-Black, Makofo, Nicell, Olaleye.

Workington: Collin, Arnison, Cowan, May, Gray, Hewson, Henley, Dillon, Birks, Hoolickin, Johnson. Subs: Goulding, Edmonson, Green, Goodall.

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