Poppies must go for it, says boss Law

Kettering Town celebrate after Spencer Weir-Daley scored during the 1-1 draw with Hitchin Town last weekend. Picture by Jim McAlwane

The Poppies are set to play five matches in that period, starting with a clash against Dunstable Town at Latimer Park tonight (Thursday, 7.45pm).

That is quickly followed by a trip to Chesham United on Saturday before home matches with Leamington (next Tuesday), Bedworth United (next Thursday) and Bideford (Saturday week) follow on.

Kettering go into tonight’s clash on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run and they have lost just once in their last 12.

It is a run that has given them a big chance of reaching the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division play-offs.

Law’s team are six points behind Hungerford Town and Leamington, who sit in fourth and fifth place respectively.

But they have three games in hand on all four clubs who currently occupy the play-off positions.

Law believes his team have “nothing to lose” but he is wary of tonight’s visitors with Dunstable having drawn their last two games 0-0, the latest of which was at promotion contenders Redditch United on Monday night.

“We just have to go for it, there is nothing to lose now,” Law said.

“Redditch had a real go at Dunstable on Monday.

“Dunstable didn’t go there to play for a draw but they defended admirably and they frustrated Redditch at times.

“They put in the sort of performance that typifies what this league is all about so we know we will be in for a severe test.”

Law is set to have a fully-fit squad to choose from and he confirmed Rene Howe and captain Brett Solkhon will be in contention to start tonight after both came off the bench in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Hitchin Town.

“They (Howe and Solkhon) will both be available for selection from the start,” Law added.

“That wasn’t the case at the weekend, which is why we used them from the bench.

“But, after the win against Slough, we also felt the other guys deserved another chance to show what they could do.”

Redditch, meanwhile, have been deducted three points after being found guilty of fielding two ineligible players during a 3-1 win over St Neots Town in February.

It means they have now dropped to 74 points, seven clear of the Poppies but from three games more.

The two clubs are set to clash at the Valley Stadium in the penultimate game of the season on Monday, April 18.