Cambridge Utd 0-2 Kettering

Cooper took over as Kettering boss in May 2007

Peterborough-bound Mark Cooper brought the curtain down on his reign as Kettering manager with victory at Cambridge United.

Cooper saw his side go in front when Cambridge defender Wayne Hatswell headed Exodus Geohaghon's long throw into his own net.

In a scrappy game of few clear chances, Danny Crow was denied an injury-time equaliser by a superb Lee Harper save.

And United were punished when Anthony Elding added a second on the break.

Cooper was given a standing ovation from the travelling Kettering fans at the end of the game as they thanked him for his efforts in establishing their side in the Blue Square Premier promotion race.

And he leaves Rockingham Road with the Poppies in fine health, sitting third in the division - just five points behind leaders Oxford - and with a plum tie against Leeds in the second round of the FA Cup looming.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony and director of football Barry Fry both watched the game at the Abbey Stadium and would have been impressed with the professional way Cooper's side ground out a result in blustery conditions to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Cambridge Utd: Potter, McAuley, Saah, Hatswell, Tonkin, Willmott (Phillips 71), Carden, Reason (Ives 81), Pitt (Challinor 71), Holroyd, Crow.
Subs Not Used: Coulson, Parkinson.

Booked: Crow.

Kettering: Harper, Dempster, Roper, Geohaghon, Taylor, Dance, Green (Thomas 71), Noubissie, Heslop, Elding, Ashikodi (Spencer 89).
Subs Not Used: Wrack, Fowler, Boucaud.

Booked: Dance, Elding, Heslop, Roper.

Goals: Hatswell 3 og, Elding 90.

Att: 3,088.

Ref: A Hendley (West Midlands).