Aman Verma's penalty helped Kettering beat Lincoln and move out of the Blue Square Bet Premier relegation zone.

The Poppies could have taken an early lead but Danny Mills missed a good opportunity when he side-footed wide following Patrick Noubissie's cross.

But the hosts went ahead when Verma converted from the spot after Richard Pacquette had handled in the area.

Pacquette had the best chance to grab an equaliser for the Imps but his left-footed lob from 18 yards dropped wide.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Kettering Town caretaker manager Ashley Westwood tells BBC Radio Northampton:

"The most pleasing thing was the clean sheet. You don't get them without tremendous team spirit and we've shown that there.

"The back four never looked troubled, to be honest. They looked solid. In the midfield, they've done their jobs like we wanted and the three lads up front have worked hard.

"We thoroughly deserved the win and hopefully we can look forward.

"On the last two games, on the field, it looks like we've got no problems."

Lincoln City manager David Holdsworth told BBC Lincolnshire:

"I'm disappointed and shocked. I can't believe we're going home with nothing after the chances we've created.

"I felt it was a soft penalty against us and I felt we should have had one for a foul on Richard Pacquette.

"We needed a bit more quality, the will was there but the end product was clearly missing. Kettering defended stoutly but we must rue those missed chances.

"The attitude was right and the set-up was right, you can't take any team lightly and we certainly didn't, but if you keep missing chances it can cost you and it did."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (3)

Kettering Town

  • 12 Walker
  • 03 Davis
  • 05 Sangare
  • 06 J Ifil Booked
  • 23 Noubissie
  • 08 Aman
  • 11 Kelly Booked
  • 16 Meechan Booked
  • 20 Bridges
  • 17 Ralth
  • 18 Mills

Substitutes

  • 02 P Ifil
  • 32 Pryor
  • 38 Jones

Lincoln City

  • 01 Anyon
  • 03 Nutter
  • 04 Williams
  • 05 Gowling
  • 26 Robson
  • 17 Nicolau (Watson - 77' )
  • 27 Christophe
  • 34 Thompson Booked
  • 36 Sheridan (Russell - 58' )
  • 12 Platt (Lloyd - 58' )
  • 16 Pacquette

Substitutes

  • 21 Draper
  • 02 Watson
  • 32 Pearson
  • 15 Russell
  • 18 Lloyd
Ref: Wigglesworth
Att: 1,417

Match Stats

Shots

14 13

On target

7 7

Corners

5 5

Fouls

13 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:56

The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:36

Corner taken short by Steven Meechan. The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Robson.

90:00 +3:08

David Bridges produces a cross, Nathan Ralph takes a shot. Save made by Joe Anyon.

89:03

Centre by Danny Mills, Joe Anyon makes a save.

87:46

Foul by Aman Verma on Josh Gowling, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Anyon.

86:49

Shot from 30 yards from Steven Meechan. Blocked by Tyrone Thompson.

85:40

Effort from 18 yards by Danny Mills. Blocked by Robbie Williams.

85:21

Karlton Watson challenges Jerel Ifil unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sol Davis.

84:36

The ball is crossed by Paul Robson.

84:01

The ball is crossed by Steven Meechan, David Bridges takes a shot. Save by Joe Anyon.

82:30

Strike comes in from Danny Lloyd from the free kick.

82:30 Booking

Booking Marcus Kelly goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

82:23

Foul by Marcus Kelly on Karlton Watson, free kick awarded.

81:28

Simon Russell crosses the ball, Richard Pacquette takes a shot. Save by Laurie Walker.

80:14

Simon Russell takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Laurie Walker.

79:08

Unfair challenge on Aman Verma by Tyrone Thompson results in a free kick. Sol Davis takes the direct free kick.

77:36

The ball is sent over by Nathan Ralph, clearance by Robbie Williams.

76:33 Substitution

Substitution Karlton Watson replaces Nicky Nicolau.

75:47

Danny Lloyd crosses the ball, Richard Pacquette has a drilled shot. Blocked by Marcus Kelly.

74:52

Simon Russell crosses the ball.

73:48

Richard Pacquette is caught offside. Laurie Walker takes the indirect free kick.

72:11

Richard Pacquette is caught offside. Sol Davis takes the indirect free kick.

71:54

A cross is delivered by Aman Verma, clearance made by Josh Gowling.

70:44

John Nutter concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Ralph. Sol Davis takes the free kick.

69:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick Noubissie by Richard Pacquette. Direct free kick taken by Laurie Walker.

68:18

Corner from the right by-line taken by Nicky Nicolau, Laurie Walker makes a save.

67:47

Free kick taken by Joe Anyon.

67:47 Booking

Booking Booking for Steven Meechan for time wasting.

67:38

Steven Meechan concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Lloyd.

66:49

Drilled right-footed shot by Aman Verma. Save by Joe Anyon. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Marcus Kelly from the right by-line, Joe Anyon makes a save.

66:17

Richard Pacquette is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Sol Davis.

65:31

Shot from just outside the area by Patrick Noubissie goes over the bar.

64:52

David Bridges gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Lloyd. Free kick taken by John Nutter.

64:00

Danny Mills takes a shot from 12 yards. Blocked by Robbie Williams. Corner taken left-footed by Marcus Kelly from the right by-line to the near post, Paul Robson manages to make a clearance.

63:28

Shot from 35 yards by Paul Robson. Save by Laurie Walker.

62:12

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Nicky Nicolau, Marcus Kelly makes a clearance.

61:54

Jerel Ifil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Pacquette.

62:12

Free kick crossed left-footed by Nicky Nicolau, Marcus Kelly makes a clearance.

62:12 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Jerel Ifil for unsporting behaviour.

61:54

Jerel Ifil challenges Richard Pacquette unfairly and gives away a free kick.

61:28

Jean Francois Christophe produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

60:28

Tyrone Thompson fouled by Jerel Ifil, the ref awards a free kick. John Nutter takes the direct free kick.

58:05

Shot by Nathan Ralph. John Nutter gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Marcus Kelly from the right by-line, clearance made by Robbie Williams.

57:07

Corner taken left-footed by Marcus Kelly, Jean Francois Christophe manages to make a clearance.

57:07 Substitution

Substitution Danny Lloyd replaces Conal Platt.

57:07 Substitution

Substitution Jake Sheridan leaves the field to be replaced by Simon Russell.

56:38

Patrick Noubissie sends in a cross, Robbie Williams makes a clearance.

54:06

Shot by Richard Pacquette. Blocked by Jerel Ifil. Corner taken by Nicky Nicolau from the right by-line.

53:35

Aman Verma gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robbie Williams. Joe Anyon takes the direct free kick.

52:53

Foul by Conal Platt on Sol Davis, free kick awarded. Sol Davis takes the free kick.

50:34

Unfair challenge on Conal Platt by David Bridges results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Robson.

49:50

Paul Robson produces a cross.

47:09

Shot on goal by David Bridges from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

46:10

The ball is swung over by Paul Robson, Richard Pacquette takes a shot. Save by Laurie Walker.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:38

It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:02

The ball is delivered by Paul Robson, clearance by Marcus Kelly.

45:00 +0:49

The ball is crossed by Conal Platt, Jerel Ifil makes a clearance.

44:48

Jean Francois Christophe fouled by Steven Meechan, the ref awards a free kick. Nicky Nicolau crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, clearance made by Steven Meechan.

43:53

Nicky Nicolau delivers the ball, save by Laurie Walker.

42:04

Jake Sheridan concedes a free kick for a foul on Djoumin Sangare. Free kick taken by Djoumin Sangare.

41:40

Shot from deep inside the area by Jake Sheridan clears the crossbar.

40:06

Foul by Jean Francois Christophe on David Bridges, free kick awarded. Sol Davis takes the direct free kick.

39:19

Richard Pacquette has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

37:25

Aman Verma concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Gowling. Joe Anyon restarts play with the free kick.

36:52

Josh Gowling challenges Aman Verma unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sol Davis.

35:40 Goal scored

Goal - Aman Verma - Kettering 1 - 0 Lincoln Penalty taken right-footed by Aman Verma and scored. Kettering 1-0 Lincoln City.

34:46

Richard Pacquette handles the ball and concedes a .

33:59

Unfair challenge on Aman Verma by Robbie Williams results in a free kick. Sol Davis crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel.

32:48

Sol Davis produces a cross, clearance made by Josh Gowling.

30:21

The ball is swung over by Conal Platt, Sol Davis manages to make a clearance. Jean Francois Christophe has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.

29:31

Aman Verma produces a cross, Danny Mills has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

28:56

Richard Pacquette challenges Patrick Noubissie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sol Davis restarts play with the free kick.

28:16

Shot by Conal Platt from 30 yards. Save made by Laurie Walker.

26:47

Paul Robson challenges Nathan Ralph unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Steven Meechan from left wing, Jean Francois Christophe makes a clearance.

25:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick Noubissie by Tyrone Thompson. Free kick taken by Laurie Walker.

23:01

Jake Sheridan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Laurie Walker.

21:48

The ball is crossed by Jake Sheridan, clearance made by David Bridges. Inswinging corner taken by Nicky Nicolau from the right by-line, save by Laurie Walker.

19:48 Booking

Booking The referee shows Tyrone Thompson a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

18:30

Corner taken by Nicky Nicolau, Danny Mills manages to make a clearance.

15:44

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jake Sheridan. Jerel Ifil restarts play with the free kick.

15:16

Conal Platt challenges Sol Davis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Laurie Walker restarts play with the free kick.

14:12

David Bridges fouled by Jean Francois Christophe, the ref awards a free kick. Laurie Walker takes the direct free kick.

13:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Djoumin Sangare on Jean Francois Christophe. John Nutter takes the free kick.

12:59

Shot from just outside the box by David Bridges goes over the bar.

12:26

Robbie Williams gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aman Verma. Sol Davis takes the free kick.

12:12

Nicky Nicolau crosses the ball.

11:33

Patrick Noubissie delivers the ball, Close range shot by Danny Mills goes wide of the left-hand upright.

9:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tyrone Thompson by David Bridges. Paul Robson takes the direct free kick.

8:42

Nathan Ralph has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.

7:22

Richard Pacquette produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

6:15

Richard Pacquette is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Laurie Walker restarts play with the free kick.

5:30

Nicky Nicolau sends in a cross, blocked by Aman Verma. Nicky Nicolau takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Patrick Noubissie manages to make a clearance.

1:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Ralph on Nicky Nicolau. John Nutter takes the free kick.

1:15

Shot by Marcus Kelly. Save by Joe Anyon.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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