Steve Ibbitson believes Lewes are getting closer to ending their long losing run.

A fourth successive single goal defeat, this time at Kettering, made it 16 Blue Square premier losses on the trot and leaves the Rooks on the brink of formally being relegated.

But Shaun Wilkinson and substitute David Wheeler went close to an equaliser in a bright second-half display.

Caretaker-boss Ibbitson said: “We are getting there. We are playing top sides but the two games we have played we lost 1-0 and we weren’t outplayed in either game.

“I thought we were the better side in the second half and certainly tried to play more football than they did.

“After such a long run you tend to get subconsciously into a mindset that 0-0 is a good result and perhaps you stop doing some of the things you should do. If we can get the players believing a bit more they are a match for the two teams we have seen I think it is going to come. We are at Barrow on Saturday, it is a long trip but we will be trying to win that game.”

Tim Rivers came in for Wheeler as the only planned change from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Kidderminster.

The Rooks felt Wheeler needed a rest after a number of games recently for his club and for English Schools under-18s so Rivers started up front with Rhys Henry switching to right midfield.

Ibbitson had to make a further change before kick-off when Guy Butters pulled up in the warm-up with a calf injury so Fred Foreman came into the starting line-up with Chris Breach dropping back to centre-back.

Kevin Keehan, who resigned as manager exactly a week earlier, was in the crowd watching his son Joe.

Ibbitson opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Wilkinson sitting deep in midfield but they found themselves under early pressure.

Maybe the late change unsettled Lewes but it was little surprise when they fell behind on 24 minutes, Gareth Seddon crossing to the back post where Jean-Paul Marna fired home.

Despite bossing possession, Kettering were creating few chances, although Rikki Banks was forced to make a good save to deny Seddon 11 minutes before the break.

Lewes were restricted to a couple of half-chances in the opening 45 minutes, Henry and Rivers, via a deflection, getting efforts on target without troubling Lee Harper.

Shaun Wilkinson threatened an equaliser on 57 minutes with a shot from 25 yards which Harper pushed round his left-hand post for a corner.

Lewes were beginning to get up a head of steam and Wheeler, who had replaced Henry, unleashed a left-foot shot which Harper got down well to save.

They certainly enjoyed a better second half when Ryan Storrie and Andy Wilkinson came on for their league debuts but their good spell fizzled out and Kettering held out comfortably in the end.

Lewes remain in desperate need of strikers and Ibbitson is trying to bring someone in after Chamal Fenelon left the club.

He said: “We know that is an area we need to try to strengthen but the club is in dire straits financially. We are looking at one or two people we would like to get in and I will be talking to the directors again today.

“We have got one or two people we are thinking about but we need the money to do that.”

Lewes: Banks 6; Barness 6, Cullip 6, Breach 7, Fisk 6 (sub A.Wilkinson 85); Henry 5(sub Wheeler 62), Keehan 6, S.Wilkinson 7, Foreman 5, Cox 5 (Storrie 72); Rivers 6. Subs not used: Liburd.

Booked: Foreman (85, foul).

Kettering: Harper; Bennett, Dempster, Geohaghan, L.Potter; A.Potter, Wrack, Boucard, Graham (sub Lorougnon 88); Seddon (sub Beardsley 77), Marna (sub Westcarr 77). Subs not used: Lee, Solkhon.

Booked: Beardsley (81, foul).

Referee: Mr S.Procter-Green.

Attendance: 867.