A lively encounter at the Impact Arena this evening saw the game end in a 2-2 draw. Kettering took the lead twice with goals from Ashley Westwood (43) and Paul Furlong (74) only to see the hosts equalise through Nathan Arnold (68) and Jake Moult (86).

The Poppies included another former player in the starting line up as Serge Makofo took a position on the right side of midfield.However they were without the injured Moses Ashikodi and Brett Solkhon, and the continuing absentee Jean-Paul Marna.

Teams :

Alfreton Town (4-4-2) :

Ross Turner;Jordan Hall,Aden Flint,Kyle McFadzean,Chris Shaw (Captain);Chris Hall,(Anthony Wilson,60),Anthony Howell (Jake Moult,46),Anton Brown,Nathan Arnold;Paul Clayton (Ian Ross,60), Liam Hearn.

Kettering Town :

Nathan Abbey (Niall Cooper,72);John Dempster,Ashley Westwood (Captain), Luke Graham,Sol Davis;Serge Makofo (Patrick Noubissie,75),James Dance,Andre Boucaud,Marcus Kelly (Harry Baker,64),Paul Furlong,Iyseden Christie (Stephen O'Leary,60).

Not Used : Greg Taylor,Darren Wrack,Ian Roper.

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The first half was a full blooded affair between two teams who wanted to win this game, despite its friendly status. At times tempers flared and in the end the referee yellow carded Kettering's Luke Graham in the 26th minute to try to assert his authority.

On the football side of things, Alfreton showed why they had beaten both Luton and Rotherham in their last two games, and Kettering showed some much needed grit and determination- to go in at half time leading 1-0.

Early on Marcus Kelly shot wide and then teed up Paul Furlong, whose shot was deflected wide for a corner.Nathan Arnold was showing up well against John Dempster on the Alfreton left and his sharp one-two with Liam Hearn saw the striker's shot saved by Nathan Abbey.

Another good Arnold break saw shots from Paul Clayton and Anton Brown both blocked by some last ditch defending. At the other end Dempster volleyed wide a Makofo free kick.

Nathan Abbey pulled off a great save- somehow getting to Anton Brown's shot, and Hearn headed wide a long cross from the right.Hearn then drited past two defenders before blasting narrowly over the bar.

Andre Boucaud fired over for Kettering before they took the lead in the 43rd minute as Kelly's corner from the right was stabbed in by skipper Ashley Westwood.Right on time, Kelly flashed a shot wide from 20 yards.

Half Time:

Alfreton Town 0 Kettering Town 1

Home keeper, Ross Turner, did well to foil both Makofo and the James Dance as Kettering bore in on goal early in the second half.

Arnold was still causing great problems, and his 57th minute shot was just over the bar.Next, he fluffed a great chance when through on goal, on the left, but he blazed high and wide.Abbey then had to be sharp to turn away a Hearn shot.

On 68 minutes, Arnold got his goal as he eased past Westwood to slot the ball under Abbey.

The Poppies were quick to reply as the otherwise immaculate Kyle McFadzean was caught for speed by Makofo and his cross was put away by Paul Furlong.

Arnold missed a glorious chance to equalise as he somehow mis-cued from three feet and then Jake Moult headed wide when well placed.

The final goal of the game saw the hosts equalise as Brown got past Dempster on the left and his cross was turned in by Moult.Alfreton had the chance to win the game, but Hearn blasted the ball into the crowd when clear on the right.

Full Time:

Alfreton Town 2 Kettering Town 2

Attendance 223.