"Bucks aiming to cut Poppies down to size"

Match Date : December 12th, 2020 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : Latimer Park
Kick Off : 15:00

Telford travel to Northamptonshire to take on Kettering Town this Saturday.

The Poppies swept to the Southern League Premier Division Central title in 2018/19 but struggled in their first season back in the National League North. Kettering were third from bottom when the campaign ended in March, although they moved up a place when points per game was calculated.

Town actually beat the Bucks 2-1 on the opening day in 2019, but that was their only win in the first ten games of the season – picking up just two more points in that time. That run led to manager Nicky Eaden being shown the door, with former Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox taking the reins in October 2019.

Cox galvanised the Poppies and made them resolute and tough to beat. In fact, when Telford beat Kettering 3-1 on the eve of the March lockdown, it was only the second time Cox’s Poppies had conceded more than two goals in his 22 matches in charge.

Town made a slow start to the current campaign, but a recent four game unbeaten run proved that they are still a tough nut to crack. That sequence lifted Kettering up to 17th, with 11 points from ten games.

Cox added plenty of experience to his squad in the summer with the arrivals of keeper Adam Collin, centre half Ryan Fryatt and former Bucks forward Kyle Perry. Dangerous midfielder Connor Kennedy is one to watch for the Poppies; he’s bagged five goals so far this season.

Gavin Cowan’s men will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at Farsley, although Latimer Park – the ground that Kettering share with Burton Park Wanderers – hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Bucks; Telford have lost 2-1 on both visits. The Bucks won comfortably when the sides last met, though, and will be after another three points this weekend.

 

Live stream

Under the Government’s new guidelines away fans will not be allowed at ‘elite sport’, but you can watch a live stream of the game provided by Kettering. Coverage starts at 2.30pm.