AFC Wimbledon

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Danny Kedwell

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Kettering 1-2 AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon claimed top spot in the Blue Square Bet Premier with a pulsating 2-1 win over Kettering Town at Rockingham Road on Saturday.

The Poppies have struggled at home so far this season and it was no different this weekend as Danny Kedwell cancelled out Iyseden Christie's equaliser after Sam Hatton had fired his side into the lead.

In a feisty affair Greg Taylor was cautioned for diving after a challenge from Ismail Yakubu with Wimbledon taking the lead on 11 minutes as Hatton curled a free-kick past Nathan Abbey and inside his near post.

Kettering responded almost immediately and were level just five minutes later as Christie's shot took a deflection, leaving Dons stopper Seb Brown wrong-footed.

The hosts upped the tempo and came close to grabbing an equaliser moments later as first Taylor's effort was deflected wide before Abbey denied Ed Harris. Christie then went even closer for the Poppies when his header came out off the underside of the bar.

At the other end, Kedwell held his hands up as he missed an easy chance after Abbey's save from Sammy Moore. The ball fell kindly for Kedwell but he could only manage to shank his effort wide of the target.

Wimbledon picked up their game in the second period and Moore and Christian Jolley both tried their luck from distance before Kedwell found his goalscoring touch after some neat interplay with Jolley.

Christie then saw a penalty appeal turned down after being upended by Harris while Ricky Wellard failed to test Abbey with the clock winding down.

Brown denied Marna in the dying seconds to claim a valuable three points which sees them lead the league by two points ahead of Crawley Town.

Kettering bookings: Taylor, Graham, Dempster.

AFC Wimbledon bookings: Hatton, Blackman, Minshull.

Ref: Richard Wigglesworth.

Att: 1727.