A collision with fellow high-fliers and very much in-form York City was always going to be a big test for Lee Harper's men.

The Poppies more than played their part in a well-contested clash but it ended in a familiar tale.

The effort and commitment couldn't be questioned. But the big difference was in the final third of the pitch.

York shot-stopper Michael Ingham did his bit in keeping them out but the Poppies always seemed to be lacking that cutting edge in front of goal.

The visitors, on the other hand, rarely threatened. And the fact that Kettering gifted them their only attempt on target, which was clinically finished by Michael Rankine, will only make the defeat all-the-more galling.

The loss of proven frontmen over the past few months was always going to leave Harper short on attacking options.

How ironic should it be then that Kettering's best player was James Dance who did a terrific job as a makeshift striker as Jean-Paul Marna missed out through injury.

He caused the solid York defence, which included former Poppy Luke Graham, plenty of problems in another hard-working effort. With players like Dance around, Kettering won't go far wrong.

The hosts started brightly and had it not been for Ingham, they would have been in front inside five minutes.

He brilliantly clawed away Ian Roper's header after James Jennings' cross had been knocked back by Alton Thelwell. That came just
moments after Kwesi Appiah had lashed over the bar from close range.

Roper was so nearly the hero but his afternoon took a turn for the worse when an uncharacteristic error let York in for the game's only goal.

He missed a ball back into the box and it fell perfectly for former Rushden & Diamonds man Rankine who made no mistake in firing past Nathan Abbey.

Rankine was eventually substituted for his own good in the second half as he continued to tread a fine line with a couple of fouls after being booked for an earlier elbow on John Dempster.

The game always had an extra edge to it and there was an old-fashioned 21-man brawl early in the second half after Jordan Hafield – who really got stuck in for the Poppies – clashed with Alex Lawless.

The fight was there from Kettering but clear-cut chances weren't.
Ingham reacted well to save substitute Anthony Robinson's back-heel but that was the closest they came.

It was another defeat that will be tough for the Poppies to take. But if they continue to fight and battle like this, more wins will come.