Michael Rankine

Kettering Town 0-1 York City

York remain in third place in the Blue Square Premier standings after a 1-0 win over Kettering at Rockingham Road on Saturday.

Michael Rankine scored the only goal of the game to give his side the three points and continue their play-off push.

The home side started the brighter of the two and they almost grabbed the lead in the fifth minute when Ian Roper's header was well saved by goalkeeper Michael Ingham after he latched onto James Jennings' corner.

It was Roper's error that led to the York goal as he failed to deal with a ball back into the box and Rankine pounced and left Kettering stopper Nathan Abbey with no chance as he made it 1-0.

This seemed to spur the Poppies into life as they twice came close to equalising, first through James Dance, who was denied by another fine save from Ingham and then Marcus Kelly, who failed to find the target and fired into the side-netting.

Kwesi Appiah almost earned a point for his side late in the game, but he fired wide to sum up a miserable evening for the hosts.

Kettering bookings: Roper, Jennings, Hadfield, Dance, Dempster

York bookings: Rankine, Lawless

Att: 1,375

Ref: R.Wigglesworth.