Kettering 3  Lynn 0

DESPITE a good first 45 minutes from Lynn, the game was over as a contest at the break with the league leaders holding a two-goal advantage.
Coach Darren Bloodworth said: "We worked hard but the difference was their finishing. They looked like scoring everytime they put a ball in the box, whereas we didn’t.
"Their two forwards are the best in the league. I’ve played against them myself, and they are an absolute handful to mark.
"They were our downfall, and I think them and Kettering’s midfield two were maybe the difference today."
The home side took the lead in the 18th minute when a flowing move down the right saw Dale Watkins deliver a cross for Brad Piercewright to power home a header.
Kettering’s second came in the 41st minute when Darren Collins punished some hesitancy between former Poppies keeper Steve Wilson and defender Martin McNeil to head into an empty net.

Lynn did have a few chances of note, but rarely looked like finding a way past a stubborn Poppies defence, who had former Linnet Martin Matthews in outstanding form.
Adie Hayes twice went close to giving The Walks outfit a shock early lead.
The fingertips of Paul Pettinger denied him in the 12th minute and two minutes later a 20-yard shot just whistled over the home bar.
Kettering dominated after the break and missed three good chances, Watkins being the main culprit, before he redeemed himself in the 60th minute by threading the ball through to Richard Butcher to slide the ball home.
Lynn rarely threatened in a dour second period and substitute Tommy Wright produced their only shot of the half five minutes from time.
The Linnets’ misery had already been completed with Matty Clements being stretchered off with bruising to his knee in the 77th minute after a challenge with home substitute Lee Cowling, who was also carried off.

Kettering: P. Pettinger, W. Diuk, B, Piercewright (L. Cowling 57, C. Perkins 77), M. Matthews, L. Howarth, C. Norman, P. Fear, S. Murray, D. Collins, D. Watkins (N. Inman 69), R. Butler.
Lynn
: Wilson, Dakin, Welsh, McNeil (Robinson 57), Fuff, Rowe, Anderson, Hayes, Clements (Wright 77), Hudson, White (Watts 45).
Att: 1,842. MoM: Simon Dakin
Bookings (all fouls), Lynn: Hayes 32, McNeil 43. Kettering: Norman 31.

Report by permission of the Lynn News