Another huge game arrives as Poppies bid to hit their targets

Kettering Town celebrate one of their goals during Tuesday's fine 3-0 success at Tiverton Town. The Poppies are back on the road at Chesham United tomorrow. Picture by Peter Short

As far as weeks go, this has been a very good one so far for the Poppies.

They thumped Bishop’s Stortford 6-0 at Latimer Park last Saturday and then followed that up with an impressive 3-0 success at Tiverton Town on Tuesday night.

Those results have left Marcus Law’s team in fourth place and on 70 points with 13 games to go.

And while the title remains firmly in the hands of leaders Hereford, who are seven points ahead of Kettering with a game in hand, a play-off place is now looking all-the-more likely.

An impressive run of form has seen Chesham move into the final play-off position, although they are a huge 12 points behind the Poppies with the top four currently pulling away from the rest.

So if Kettering can secure a third win of the week, it will leave them on the brink of securing a top-five finish and an extended season as they bid for promotion.

But assistant-manager Mitch Austin knows his team will have to show “respect” to Chesham, who have come out of the pack to challenge for a play-off place.

“The players have been set a points target and they are on course for that after the last two games and to get through the 70-point barrier on Tuesday was a good boost,” Austin said.

“We are going in the right direction as far as the play-offs are concerned and we will just carry on trying to grind out the wins.

“We have got to give Chesham a lot of respect because they are flying at the moment.

“They have got into the play-off places by picking up some good results.

“They have had a few changes in personnel since the last time we played them so we have to go there and show them respect.

“But, at the same time, we want to go there and stay on course for what we want to achieve this season.

“And if we are going to get to our target then we need to go there looking to win.

“The work-rate and attitude has been spot on in the last two games and it has helped us to two really good victories.

“So we will go there on Saturday knowing it will be a tough game but also knowing that we will work hard to make sure we aren’t beaten and don’t concede goals.”

The Poppies completed the signing of former Harrogate Town midfielder Alex Metcalfe this week and he will be in line to link up with the squad after being unable to get the time off work to make the trip on Tuesday night.