Andrew Bennett reports:

Christmas comes but once a year, as the saying goes, with no little accuracy. But in some places it stays longer than others. We have all seen the occasional 'quirky' piece on television about the social misfit who celebrates the festive season every day of the year, keeping the decorations up all year round, watching tapes of the Queen's speech and eating turkey, stuffing and sprouts on daily rotation. I'd have thought sprouts once a year was more than enough, frankly.

Nonetheless, it was rather surprising in mid-March to see the advertising hoarding at the front of the site containing Kettering Town's football ground and the adjoining bowling alley/leisure centre, which read 'Santa's Little Helpers' and promoted bargain deals at the centre amidst images of bowling balls and Christmas trees. And the festive theme was continued in last night's matchday programme, which rather belatedly included the results of the Poppies Trust's Christmas bottle draw (wot, no Advocaat?) .

But for the long-suffering amber army, Christmas has come early recently with two away wins in four days after a wait since the first two away trips of the season for another victory on their league travels (and the second of those August strolls in the sun has since been expunged). So the six points lost due to Chester's expulsion have been clawed back in the space of a week to send United up and away from the dreaded relegation zone into which they had plunged so precipitously.

Kettering's crumbling Rockingham Road ground looks unchanged since the 1970s, but that does not apply to its name, last season's A-Line Insurance Arena moniker now changed to the Elgoods Brewery Arena. There has been no alteration in facilities, though, with United's 421-strong travelling band herded into a shallow uncovered away end at the mercy of the freezing drizzle, or taking their lives in their hands in ascending a steep, rickety staircase amidst a pile of rubble under the Main Stand to the bolted-on seats above, with refreshments (but not breathing equipment) available at the top of the slope.

It afforded a fine view of an, ahem, 'arena' which was deemed inadequate to allow its occupants to participate in last season's promotion playoffs, the sizeable Main Stand dwarfing the remaining the other three terraced sides, both ends uncovered and the opposite side under a roof littered with randomly sized adverts, some of which were so grubby and faded they were barely legible. Still, we did know who to go to if we ever needed some loam.

The Arena was surprisingly spartanly attended for a team riding high in fourth place in the table, United's travelling contingent accounting for over a third of the attendance on a chilly, damp and windy evening. In fact, the amber army easily outnumbered the entire crowd back at Bridge Road, Impington for the visit of Tamworth on the same night. Perhaps Kettering's home record had something to do with it; before they beat Grays last Saturday, they had not won at Rockingham Road since 26th September, when they won their fourth home game in a row by beating Ebbsfleet 3-0 before embarking on a run of three draws and five defeats. Since then they have relied on their away record to keep them challenging at the top with twelve victories on their travels. United's away record was as bad as Kettering's at home before last week, so an unpredictable evening was in prospect.

Calum Willock was rewarded for three promisingly energetic substitute appearances with his first start in place of Lee Phillips, the only change in the starting line-up from that which won at Barrow on Saturday, with Antonio Murray returning from suspension to oust Sam Ives from the bench. Dan Gleeson's and Dave Partridge's continued injuries meant Kevin Roberts and Josh Coulson retained their places in the back four.

The hosts' achievement in retaining a top five place despite losing manager Mark Cooper to some struggling team from the Fens was brought home when looking at their first XI, a side devoid of big names with the best-known of them being keeper Nathan Abbey, brought in by player-manager Lee Harper to stand in for himself due to a persistent back problem which first manifested itself in the Poppies' 2-0 win at the Abbey in November, Cooper's last game in charge.

One criticism which one might level at Martin Ling's United side is that it tends to start matches a trifle on the slow side, and tonight was no exception as Kettering took the early initiative, forcing their first corner inside a minute, fisted authoritatively clear by Simon Brown.

The pattern was soon set, the hosts using the full width of the pitch and finding particular joy down the United left where Aiden Palmer struggled badly to cope with the trickery of Marcus Kelly despite back-up from Simon Russell. The visitors' central midfield pairing of Paul Carden and Rory McAuley also found itself overrun by Kettering's galloping midfield, and Josh Coulson and Brian Saah had to be on their mettle straight from the get-go.

United did manage a shot on 5, Carden lifting one over the top, but a misunderstanding two minutes later almost gave the Poppies the lead: Kevin Roberts jumped above Kwesi Appiah to win a cross, but Brown also came for it and when Roberts' header fell to Elliot Charles in the D, he had an open goal to shoot at. But Coulson had already anticipated the danger and got back on the line to kick Charles' shot away and save a certain goal. Phew.

A minute later the rampant hosts surged forward again through the middle and Charles tried his luck from further out with a well-struck and well-placed shot which Brown did very well to dive and parry. United seemed unable to string any sort of passing movement together and were also second best in almost every physical challenge and fifty-fifty ball; the increasingly bedraggled amber army began to fear the worst, and that was not a dose of the sniffles or swine flu (whatever happened to that? I don't know, these trendy viruses, here today, gone tomorrow…).

On the rare occasions when the U's could pass the ball to each other instead of the opposition, they looked promising against a home defence which appeared vulnerable to being attacked at pace. On 11 Scott Neilson capped a good run with a low cross across the box and it eluded everyone except Russell, arriving unmarked at the far post, but his over-deliberate shot with the whole goal to aim at was underhit and after a ricochet ended up in the arms of Abbey. Great chance.

Back came Kettering, Charles wriggling past a bemused Saah on 13 and bending a good shot past the post with Brown a spectator. But the visitors created another quality move four minutes later out of the blue when Neilson's perfectly weighted ball over the top sent Danny Crow clear on goal; however, reaching the edge of the area, he chose to shoot early and plonked it disappointingly wide of the far post, to the exposed Abbey's relief.

United had therefore been substantially outplayed so far but might well have nicked a couple of goals, which perhaps pointed the way to why Kettering's home record is so mediocre this season. Willock was sent through by McAuley on 21 but scuffed a feeble shot to Abbey, and first yellow card on 25 went to Carden, expressing his frustration with an impetuous and unnecessary foul on Jordan Hadfield.

Kettering remained in the ascendant, attacking on all fronts, but United stood firm with Brown commanding in goal and Coulson outstanding of the back four, repelling everything that came his way. One got the impression that the Poppies would be much more successful if they had a better quality striker or two who could benefit from their neat and well-organised approach play.

On 33 a tricky cross from Greg Taylor was well headed clear by the dependable Roberts at the far post, and five minutes later a quick break caught United on the hop and culminated in a powerful Charles shot which was superbly tipped over the top by Brown. Then Appiah bamboozled Palmer again and arrowed a low cross across the six-yard box, but Brown palmed it clear.

Still United held doughtily firm, and on the stroke of half-time they enjoyed a brief spell of pressure themselves. Crow drew a foul from Andre Boucaud, who was booked for the U's man's pains, a corner ensued and Russell's flag-kick found the head of McAuley in the middle of a crowded box; his goalbound header was cleared from near the line amidst unsuccessful claims for either a goal or a handball.

So ended a disappointing half for the visitors, able to play their game in only occasional fits and starts, having done well to soak up a lot of probing from the hosts but not really asserting themselves on the match despite creating two very good scoring opportunities. A substantial improvement would be needed if they were to gain even a point from a fluent and dangerous home side.

To their credit, United did appear to have rolled their metaphorical sleeves up after the break, and they matched the Poppies for possession and physical challenges after they re-emerged from the dressing room. After a cautious start from both sides, first goal attempt went to the hosts on 52 when a James Jennings cross was helped on to Charles in the box and his mishit shot soared into the air and almost dipped under the bar, helped over by Brown.

Coulson went down injured two minutes later to concern from the U's bench, which did not have a defender on it, and the home crowd was outraged when ref Naylor stopped a Kettering attack to allow him to receive treatment. They were also displeased when Carden wellied the ensuing uncontested drop ball upfield towards Abbey, as if they had really expected him to say "Oh yes, where were we…?" before crossing the ball into his own box to set up a home striker for an attempt on goal. No-one is THAT sporting, people. And if they are, they're a ruddy loser.

McAuley fired a speculative shot over on 55, and tellingly, Simon Russell began to make his presence felt on the game with some darting runs and passes. Calum Willock started to receive some decent balls forward, enabling him to bring Russell, Crow and co ("I am Gluteus Maximus!") into play, and the contest was now much more even.

A foul on McAuley some thirty yards out just before the hour afforded Crow a chance to have a slash at goal, but he blasted it underwhelmingly straight into the wall, and United almost paid the penalty when the hosts broke back and Kelly fired wide of goal instead of playing in a more advantageously placed colleague.

Kettering continued to be a threat, Kelly's corner on 65 finding John Dempster flicking a header diagonally goalward at the near post, but Palmer was there at the opposite stick to nod off the line. Six minutes later it all finally boiled over when Willock was felled by home skipper Ian Roper who then tried to impede him with outstretched legs when he tried to get up, and after an unseemly melee between most of both sides, Roper got the booking he deserved.

Crow took the resultant free-kick from marginally closer than the last one, but this time ballooned it hopelessly over the top. Tonight, Matthew, I'm not going to be Cristiano Ronaldo. The hard-working Charles was withdrawn in favour of another striker, Jean-Paul Marna.

On 75 United came their nearest yet to breaking the deadlock. A superb, tiptoeing run from Russell down the left channel culminated in a left-footed cross which Willock met with his head less than six yards out, somehow Abbey parried off the line, it was helped in again and this time Neilson had a point-blank header also pawed away by the acrobatic Poppies keeper.

It was, however, but a brief respite for the hosts. Next minute Russell had latched onto a half-cleared corner, arrowed a clever cross right into the heart of the box, and there was Crow to get his laces behind the ball and lash unequivocally home from eight yards with a shot which Abbey could barely have seen. 1-0!

Abbey was furious about something, stalking almost to the centre circle to remonstrate with the referee, and he was duly booked for the earache he had given the man in black. United had scored just three minutes earlier in the match on Saturday. Now, could they repeat the trick and grind out another three points?

The signs were promising. With the ascendancy of United's midfield, the hosts seemed to be running out of ideas, their dominance down the wings dissipated. Darren Wrack replaced Kelly on 80 as they shuffled the pack, then Willock was harshly carded when Abbey deliberately booted a free-kick into the backs of his legs when he failed to retreat quickly.

Crow floated a shot over on 83, then Lee Phillips replaced a slightly limping Willock, who had done a fine job as an experienced target man. Marna forced a diving save from Brown on 85, then in Kettering's final throw of the dice, Appiah was withdrawn in favour of Nigerian Under-23 international Pascal Ebigbo.

As the clock ticked on the hosts forced a series of corners, well defended by the U's, and as the 90 came around even Abbey sprinted forward to join in the fun, and the pressure nearly told when Marna arrived at the far post from a flick-on but somehow spooned his shot over the bar from less than five yards out. That was close.

That was also the Poppies' last chance. United had done it again, to the joy and relief of all concerned. Yes, the first half had been mostly unimpressive. Yes, they had had to defend stoutly and sometimes luckily. Yes, they had played little football until the last half an hour. But right now, it isn't about pretty football; it's about getting stuck in, stopping the opposition, nicking a goal and hanging on for grim life. It's about winning, it's about three points. Because make no mistake, this club simply cannot afford to go down. And the signs are there that hopefully, they will not. But the battle is only half won, and there is no room for complacency just yet. Cry havoc and let slip the U's of war!

Statto Corner
United completed two consecutive league away wins for only the second time this season, the first double coming in the first two awaydays of the season at Ebbsfleet and Chester; and the latter, of course, doesn't even count now. Before that you would need to go back to last April for two away victories in a row, both by 2-1 at Kettering and Salisbury.

United have kept two consecutive league clean sheets for the first time since last September, when they enjoyed four shut-outs in a row against Forest Green (7-0), Altrincham (0-0), Wimbledon (0-0) and Wrexham (2-0). Three of those matches were at home, so United's last two consecutive clean sheets away from home were last March at Barrow (2-0) and Woking (1-0).

The U's have not lost in Kettering in a league match since March 1962, when they went down 4-1 in the Southern League. Their most recent competitive defeat there was 1-0 in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round in September 1968.

Calum Willock is the latest incumbent of the coveted United number 29 shirt. His predecessors were Scott Paterson, Jonas Axeldal, Franco Nacca, Ryan Lockett, Rory Hutton, Adam Davies, Courtney Pitt, James Meredith and Phil Smith.

Zema Abbey started 21 games for United, plus seven as sub, scoring five goals, between February and December 2000. His brother Nathan is gradually creeping up on him in matches played against the U's, and he is now up to ten, for six different clubs. He first appeared for Luton in a 3-1 defeat for the Hatters at the Abbey on 12th November 1999, and after another appearance for them he next turned twice for Chesterfield, once for Northampton (in the LDV), Boston (three times) and Rushden, last November in a 2-2 draw also at the Abbey.

He has participated in only one draw, finishing on the winning side four times and a loser five times, managing three clean sheets and being sent off once, in Northampton's 4-2 LDV defeat at Sixfields in November 2002. At the age of 32 and on his sixteenth club, there must be a good chance our paths will cross again next term.

Player Ratings

Brown 8. Confident and commanding with a smattering of fine saves; we're in safe hands here.
Roberts 7. Quietly efficient.
Palmer 6. Unimpressive first half in which he was given something of a runaround, improved after the break with some decisive tackles.
Saah 7. Fairly shaky start but was somewhere near his usual reliable self by the end.
Coulson 8. United's best defender.
Neilson 7. Hard-working display in which he gave useful assistance to Roberts covering back and almost scored with a header. Hopefully we will see more of his attacking wing play on Saturday.
Carden 6. Solid if unspectacular, he will never be a demonstrative, remonstrative skipper like Paul Wanless, but needs to assert himself more.
McAuley 6. Somewhat overrun down the middle in the first half, got more of a grip in the second.
Russell 7. Fairly quiet opening period but blossomed later on and was a real thorn in the hosts' side with energetic running and clever footwork and crossing.
Crow 7. Tireless runner who was rewarded with another fine winning goal.
Willock 7. Useful target man, full of pace and aggression, worth an extended run.
Phillips 5. Late fill-in for Willock.

Match Summary

Now the going has got tough, United have got going by digging in stubbornly in the face of opposition pressure then nicking a goal and hanging on grimly for three hard-fought points. Their second such victory in four days is a tribute to their character, albeit they have ridden their luck somewhat and looked distinctly disjointed for long periods at Kettering, but they seemed to grow stronger as the match wore on. Now if they can produce more of the passing football they have played only sporadically of late, a few home wins could well allay most relegation fears by the time Easter has passed. Bring on the lumberjacks.

Man of the Match

Josh Coulson. Josh will never be a silky-smooth Franz Beckenbauer type, but he excels in the fundamentals of good defending, winning his headers, decisive in the tackle, intelligent in covering (with one vital clearance off the line) and clearing his lines without undue ceremony. Did not put a foot wrong all night.

Ref Watch

Naylor 7. Ran the game reasonably unobtrusively and was sparing with the cards, despite the 'assistance' of a hopeless linesman on the Main Stand side.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

"My feet soon started to feel like ice blocks." (Ed Malini)

Soundtrack of the Day

Janelle Monae "Tightrope"

Knowing MP3, Knowing U's with Dave Partridge

Dave Partridge lends an ear to the Rockingham Road sounds. "Alright, you lot! Do you remember the Eighties? I grew up in that time and I was a bit of a mini-Goth when I was a lad, listening to stuff like the Sisters of Mercy and The Mission. I didn't wear any make-up, though!

"They remember the Eighties at Kettering too, and there was a fair smattering of 80s sounds tonight from Peter Gabriel (Sledgehammer - great video), Tears For Fears (a bit whiny but had some good tunes), ABC (overblown but catchy) and Haircut One Hundred (mummy's boys in chunky jumpers).

"There were some more recent favourites too, like the singalong Fratellis, Kaiser Chiefs, REM, Keane (bit dull) and the Futureheads' versions of Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love,' which is a bit weird but drives along nicely. So overall, not bad, but how about some March Violets or Red Lorry Yellow Lorry next time, eh?! DP's verdict: 7/10."