United suffered their first defeat of the new season but the main talking point came as Gary Brabin's midfield was further decimated by a controversial sending off for Ben Farrell in the second half.

Gary Brabin made one change to the side that won 3-0 at Eastbourne on Saturday, handing Swansea loanee Chris Jones his full debut on the right of midfield in place of Robbie Willmott.

Poppies boss Mark Cooper made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with local rivals Rushden & Diamonds, calling up John Dempster, Owain Warlow and Craig Westcarr in place of Nicky Eaden, Brett Solkhorn and Chris Beardsley.

In warm sunshine the game got off to a cautious start but it was clear from the start that Kettering were set up to deny United time on the ball. They harried and chased doubled up on Chris Jones and Felino Jardim, and they carved out the first chance in the fifth minute when a long throw from Tommy Jaszczun set up fellow ex-U for a header that was simple for Danny Potter.

The final ball was lacking from both teams and United's first real chance came on 13 when Jardim floated a free kick from wide on the left. Lee McEvilly rose to challenge goalkeeper Lee Harper for it almost under the crossbar, causing the keeper to spill the ball before smothering it.

Four minutes later Jones was fouled on the right and Jardim delivered another free kick but this time the delivery was disappointing and the ball was comfortably cleared, and the disjointed play continued when Warlow counterattacked into space on the left but fired a cross wide and out of play.

Poppies skipper Guy Branston escaped with a warning for tripping Beesley in the 24th minute, Alfie Potter broke away down the left and fired a shot into Danny Potter's hands, and on 26 McEvilly burst into the area but was denied by a last-gasp challenge from the outstretched boot of Geohaghan, the resulting corner volleyed well over by Hatswell.

In a competitive match where many robust Kettering challenges were going unpunished, a clash between McEvilly and Boucard saw captain Danny Potter summoned off his line to calm his simmering team-mate. Boucard was involved again on 35 when Jardim did well to win and hold the ball up before slipping it to Challinor, who was promptly hacked down from behind by the Poppies midfielder. Boucard was booked but so was Mark Beesley for confronting him after the foul.

The atmosphere stepped up a notch as the free kick was cleared behind for a half-cleared corner, which was crossed in again by Jardim and Challinor met the cross but could only nod it into Harper's hands at close-range.

Five minutes before half-time Kettering broke away and Warlow beat Gleeson to whip a cross in from the left, and only a superb clearance by Hatswell at the far post prevented Seddon from nodding the ball in and putting his side ahead.

United enjoyed two lengthy spells of possession in the Kettering final third as half-time approached but the visitors toiled admirably to kill the danger and United were unable to make the breakthrough. The visitors made one final breakaway in the dying seconds, Warlow crossing towards Seddon who was well-marshalled by Bolland and the ball flew wide.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"As a televised match this half was a great advert for radio. Slipshod United squandered possession even more readily than a very ordinary Kettering side. The second half would struggle to be worse."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged after the break but the scoreline altered just five minutes later. Craig Westcarr advanced in acres of space on the right, looked up and spotted Danny Potter a couple of yards off his line, and looped the ball over him as he backpedalled along his goalline and inside the far post.

United tried to regroup, Jardim whipping in a cross that was cleared and Challinor lifting a shot over from more than 30 yards, while Mark Cooper made it clear that he was not settling for one goal when he withdrew Lincoln loanee Warlow and sent on another striker in former Paris St-Germain trainee Jean-Paul Marna.

Moments later a Kettering short corner fell for Guy Branston who blasted a powerful shot over the bar, and on 58 Wayne Hatswell was booked for dissent following a tangle with Marna, Westcarr's subsequent free kick skimming the top of the crossbar.

Gary Brabin made his first change on the hour, sending on Robbie Willmott for Jones, Dan Gleeson made an important headed interception from a Dempster cross, and a further Kettering substitution saw Chris Beardsley replace Seddon on 62.

With Brabin urging his men on, a Hatswell free kick four minutes later rebounded off Jaszczun to Phil Bolland, who turned just inside the area but rolled a low underpowered shot at Harper.

The U's boss made his first change to bring on Chris Holroyd for Beesley, but within a minute of the change the match took a surprising turn when Ben Farrell and Westcarr challenged for a bouncing ball near to the Main Stand touchline, Farrell catching the top of Westcarr's ankle with his studs and harshly shown an immediate red card for the challenge.

Westcarr stayed down for attention from his physio and referee Steve Creighton then called Robbie Willmott over and booked the teenager for dissent.

United's wide men tucked in to form a midfield three and an already tetchy game threatened to spill over in the next few minutes. United's sense of injustice was fired when Alfie Potter escaped a booking for a high challenge on Jardim that left the Dutchman angrily showing the marks on his leg to the officials, and a minute later Boucard raced onto Marna's through ball but was denied by Potter's legs, and Marna was penalised for following through on the United keeper.

Alfie Potter was eventually booked in the 75th minute for blatantly running into Holroyd on the left wing as the pacy striker left his markers in his wake, and with tempers simmering Dan Gleeson was called to the referee for a lengthy talking-to and a booking for dissent in the 79th minute.

Kettering were playing with confidence while United still looked unsettled by the sending-off, and on 81 Marna brought the ball forward, beat Hatswell and crossed low for sub Chris Beardsley to tuck the ball home and make their lead safe.

United kept probing but with the final ball too often lacking, Guy Branston keeping a close eye on McEvilly and Kettering sitting back to protect their lead there was little action of note in the closing stages.

Mark Cooper made his final change in the 90th minute, sending on Luke Graham for Boucard just as five minutes of added time was announced, and although United forced two late corners they failed to threaten and the final whistle marked the first defeat of the season.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter (c), Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Chris Jones (Robbie Willmott 60'), Ben Farrell, Jon Challinor, Felino Jardim; Lee McEvilly, Mark Beesley (Chris Holroyd 67').
Subs not used: Steven Drench, Josh Coulson, Gavin Hoyte.

Booked: Beesley unsporting behaviour 35', Hatswell foul 58', Willmott dissent 69', Gleeson dissent 79'
Sent off: Farrell foul 68'

Kettering Town:
Lee Harper, John Dempster, Guy Branston (c), Exodus Geohaghan, Tommy Jaszczun; Alfie Potter, Darren Wrack, Andre Boucard (Luke Graham 90'), Owain Warlow (Jean-Paul Marna 56'); Gareth Seddon (Chris Beardsley 62'), Craig Westcarr.
Subs not used: Stuart Derrill, Nicky Eaden.

Booked: Boucard foul 35', Potter foul 75'

Referee: Mr. Steve Creighton

Att: 3,489 (away 315)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United's 100% record came to an ignominious end as they were well-beaten by a workmanlike Kettering side. An inexplicable red card shown to Ben Farrell midway through the second half didn't help their cause and neither did a referee who clearly knew the game was on television. But that's not why they lost - slipshod throughout, the U's squandered possession far too often to unlock a resolute defence and that set the table for Craig Westcarr and Chris Beardsley to score the goals that settled the points either side of that red card. It's a disappointing way to lose that 100% record and the test will be can they bounce back next weekend?"

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Phil Bolland - fewer feet put wrong than the rest on a bad day at the office all round."

Ref: Mr Creighton - a preening prima donna who was always making sure he was in frame rather than correct with decisions. He gave United no protection throughout and was wrong with the red card and wrong with many decisions. 0/10."

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