A third-round encounter with Eastwood may have to wait. But the Poppies certainly did enough to deserve a second chance against County.

There was no differentiating between which was the Football League side and which was the one who claimed the Blue Square North crown last year.

Indeed, if anything, Kettering were the better side.

They did lack a little composure early on – perhaps overawed slightly by the stage – and had to weather a minor storm during which Lee Harper flapped somewhat at a cross but then made amends by recovering well to claw a header off the line.

Kettering's first chance came on 15 minutes when Alfie Potter played Iyseden Christie through. However, the striker scuffed his shot wide when he really should have done better.

Brett Solkhon did better, though. Just three minutes later Potter again was the inspiration with another slide-rule pass. Solkhon ran on and slid it under Russell Hoult and the ball trickled over the line.

Christie's running won the Poppies a corner that the away fans greeted as though it were a second goal.

However, when the equaliser came it was disappointingly soft.

Kettering were in the ascendancy but, having gained rare possession, Jamie Forrester was allowed to turn inside the area and square the ball for Sean Canham who was unmarked six yards out and had no difficulty in forcing it under Harper and into the net.

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It was so nearly Poppies who led at the break. A corner from Craig Westcarr was not cleared and Guy Branston stabbed a shot goalwards only for it to be blocked on its way in.

Christie then saw his backpost header blocked just wide and County finally cleared long enough for the referee to blow for half-time.

And they were first to come close after the restart. After another Exodus Geohaghon long throw, Westcarr crafted a chance for Christie which was somehow blocked by a defender and then deflected wide by Hoult.

Delroy Facey then had a tremendous chance to put the home side in front. Branston's error gave the ball to Facey just a few yards out and with only Harper to beat. The keeper produced a quite brilliant save and was then relieved to see Canham hook the rebound over the bar when he should have scored.

News of the cup draw brought a raucous response from the home fans but it was still Kettering who were showing the more quality and more intent.

They continued to push forward and, with Westcarr and Andre Boucaud seeing more of the ball, they carved out a headed chance for substitute Jean-Paul Marna which just floated over the bar.

It was the last clear chance of the game and now the sides have to try again in their bid to reach the third round.

Notts County: Hoult, Edwards, Forrester, Canham, Hunt, Wedderburn, Thompson, Facey, Butcher, Neal. Subs: Pilkington, Mayo, Smith (for Butcher, 27 mins), Weston (for Neal, 60 mins), Strachan (for Smith, 82 mins), Weir-Daley, Nowland.

Kettering Town: Harper, Dempster, Branston, Geohaghon, Jaszczun, Potter, Solkhon, Boucaud, Westcarr, Christie, Rawle. Subs: Wrack, Marna (for Christie, 80 mins), Galbraith, Williams, Arthur (for Potter, 64 mins) Seddon (for Rawle, 70 mins), Bennett.

Goals:
County: Canham (34 mins, 1-1).
Poppies: Solkhon (18 mins, 0-1).

FA Cup third round draw:

Portsmouth v Bristol City

Sheffield Wed v Fulham

Preston v Liverpool

Birmingham v Wolves

West Ham v Barnsley

Middlesbrough v Barrow

Hull City v Newcastle

Hartlepool v Stoke

Chelsea v Southend

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest

Cardiff v Reading

Ipswich v Chesterfield or Droylsden

Charlton v Norwich

West Brom v Peterborough or Tranmere

Torquay v Blackpool

Leyton Orient v Sheffield United

Southampton v Manchester United

Millwall v Carlisle or Crewe

Histon v Swansea

Forest Green Rovers v Derby

QPR v Burnley

Leicester v Crystal Palace

Tottenham v Wigan

Morecambe or Cheltenham v Doncaster

Arsenal v Plymouth

Notts County or Kettering v Eastwood Town

Bournemouth or Blyth v Blackburn

Macclesfield v Everton

Watford v Scunthorpe

Sunderland v Bolton

Coventry v Kidderminster

Gillingham or Stockport v Aston Villa.

Ties will be played on the weekend of January 3-4