Poppies will go '˜all-out' for victory at Redditch

Rene Howe is set to return for Kettering Town in tonight's crucial clash at Redditch United

With their home clash against Bideford being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, the Poppies had to sit back and watch as all their rivals in the race for the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division play-off places won on Saturday.

With three games to go, Kettering are three points behind Redditch, who now occupy the final play-off position.

The clash with Bideford will now be played at Latimer Park on Thursday night before the regular season draws to close with a trip to Dorchester Town next weekend.

Poppies boss Law knows only a maximum haul from their last three matches will guarantee a top-five finish while any dropped points will leave his team looking for help from elsewhere.

Striker Rene Howe will be fit to start at the Valley Stadium this evening but Gary Mulligan’s season looks to be over after he suffered a pulled thigh muscle during the 1-0 defeat to Bedworth United last Thursday.

And Law said: “The result against Bedworth clearly didn’t help and the pressure is on us and we have to go all-out for maximum points tonight because that’s what we need.

We will go for the victory in every game this week. If we get nine points we’ll be in there, if we get seven and other results go for us then we might just squeeze in.

But the only thing for certain is that we have to go for the win tonight and that’s what we will do.”

Law, meanwhile, believes “common sense prevailed” after it was confirmed the Poppies’ NFA Hillier Senior Cup final with AFC Rushden & Diamonds has been put back to Thursday, May 5.

The match had been due to be played this Wednesday but with both clubs now in midweek league action, the clash at Sixfields will now take place after the play-offs.

“I think common sense has prevailed after the proposal was made to the NFA and Northampton Town have obliged to change the date,” Law added.

“With both sides having their games called off at the weekend it made sense and now it will be a big game for the area to have to rivals against each other.”