The Terras, who included three new signings in their squad, matched the Poppies for much of the contest but a classy finish from Gareth Seddon eight minutes into the second half and a deflected effort from substitute Ange Lorougnon ensured the visitors returned home with the points.

Home boss Alan Lewer made three changes to his starting XI with Cameron Mawer and new acquisitions Kyle Critchell and Ben Gill replacing Jordan Vincent, Callum Hart and Kwesi Appiah, who has returned to Peterborough United.

New striker Fola Onibuje was also included on the bench, along with under-18s defender Jamie Framp-ton, while James Coutts retained the captain’s armband.

The home side adopted a 3-5-2 system with Critchell, Mawer and Gavin Hoyte making up the defence but it was Kettering that made the livelier start with Brett Solkhon firing over from 18 yards after Critchell was dispossessed by Ben Wright.

Town then had a goal disallowed on nine minutes when Luke Potter swung in a corner from the right, which went directly into the far corner of the net. Weymouth fans had their hearts in their mouths but to their relief referee Gary Jerden blew up for an infringement in the box.

Hoyte headed wide at the other end following a fine free-kick from David Ryan moments later before Poppies’ skipper John Demster was afforded too much time at the far post at a corner only to see his low drive fly through a crowd of players and fall just wide.

Seddon then wasted an opport-unity for the visitors from eight yards as Weymouth continued to try and stifle their opponents.

As the half went on the Terras grew in confidence and began passing the ball around with authority but on 37 minutes they rode their luck again when the unmarked Solkhon got on the end of a cross only to send his header wide of the target.

The half ended with Sam Cutler curling in a superb free-kick that Palmer headed wide as the hosts continued to display an excellent fighting spirit that was duly recognised by the applause of the home fans at the interval.

The Terras made a lively start to the second half with Jake Hyde and Palmer both nearly getting in behind the Poppies’ defence in the opening five minutes of the period.

Kettering were beginning to look a little lethargic but on 53 minutes a fantastic strike from 17 yards from Seddon lifted their spirits.

The Terras seemed to switch off as a throw-in came in from the left and when the ball arrived at the feet of the Poppies’ striker, he produced a smart turn before firing an unstoppable shot past Simon Evans and into the right corner of the net.

In response Weymouth immediately sent on Onibuje for Ryan and began to go a little more direct and throw caution to the wind with Gill pushing on from midfield.

Onibuje headed over after a looping cross from the right on 77 minutes but the Terras still could not test visiting keeper Lee Harper and just three minutes later the Poppies killed the game off with a second.

Good work on the right saw the ball worked into Lorougnon whose finish found the bottom right corner via a big deflection off the unfortunate Mawer.

Loroughnon had another effort pushed wide by Evans in the closing stages but Weymouth could take a lot of positives from their showing despite falling to their eighth defeat on the spin.