Law happy for Poppies to be '˜spoilers' as they hit the road

The Poppies head to struggling Cirencester Town in possession of one of the better away records in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.

But while their form at Latimer Park has been their Achilles heel so far this season, Kettering make the trip on the back of two home wins in a row.

A 1-0 success over Dorchester Town was followed by a 2-0 victory against rock-bottom Cinderford Town last weekend.

The damage was done in the space of two first-half minutes as Aaron O’Connor, who was handed a start, gave them the lead.

And then Brett Solkhon headed home a James Brighton corner just two minutes later to wrap up the points.

The chance to make it three wins on the bounce was scuppered when their home game with Frome Town was postponed on Tuesday night due to the foggy conditions.

But Law is now focused on back-to-back away games before Christmas with tomorrow’s (Saturday) match being followed by a trip to high-flyers Slough Town next weekend.

The Poppies’ last two home matches have produced positive results, even if the games themselves won’t go down as classics.

And Law doesn’t mind if that theme continues on the road over the next couple of weeks.

“We have got to keep the away form going and keep ourselves towards the top of that particular table,” the Poppies boss said.

“We are going into the game on the back of two positive results and it’s a question of trying to maintain that.

“It’s going to be another test against a team who are battling at the bottom end of the table.

“I think we saw last weekend that the margins are small, no matter who you are playing against.

“When it comes down to it, it’s about trying to get a result.

“And I think we are realising that it sometimes means us being spoilers rather than doing things for show.

“We will go there with the right attitude and the aim will be to come back with three more points on the board.”

Kettering, meanwhile, will be assessing the fitness of Gary Mulligan and recent signing Jack Kelly ahead of the game.

Mulligan was forced off after just 17 minutes of last weekend’s victory after he suffered a nasty nose injury, which resulted in a trip to hospital and a couple of stitches.

Kelly, who enjoyed an impressive debut and was named man-of-the-match having signed on a dual registration from Hemel Hempstead Town late last week, limped off with an ankle problem late on in the game.

Law also revealed the left-back was suffering from illness ahead of the midweek game.

And now he is hoping both will be fit in time to make the trip this weekend.

“Gary will be having the injury re-assessed because there was a lot of swelling initially,” the Poppies manager added.

“We will be doing whatever we can to make sure he is back as quickly as possible.

“Jack was struggling with his ankle at the end of the game on Saturday. But he was also taken ill during the week so that is another one we will have to check up on.

“I would think both of them will have been happier than most that Tuesday’s game was off.”