Lexi in lockdown noughts and crosses battle with Burton Latimer postman

Who will win the Easter egg prize?
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A nine-year-old Burton Latimer girl challenged her postman to a lockdown game of front door noughts and crosses - and the pair are now battling for an Easter egg.

Keri Short's daughter Lexi would normally be at Barton Seagrave Primary School but, with the country battling the coronavirus pandemic, has been at home and has been playing some games on paper.

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Wanting a new opponent she drew a grid on the front of their Virginia Crescent home, hoping her postman would play along.

Lexi has challenged her postman to a game of noughts and crosses.Lexi has challenged her postman to a game of noughts and crosses.
Lexi has challenged her postman to a game of noughts and crosses.

And former Poppies striker Chris Di Fante, who has been a postman for a decade, gave it the stamp of approval by filling in one of the nine spaces.

Keri, 40, said: "We drew it all up and put up a sign to say it was disinfected and the next day the postman came.

"When we checked the door afterwards we saw he had played along - Lexi was buzzing."

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The game looks like it is heading for a draw after a cheeky attempt by Chris to trap Lexi was blocked.

Chris Di Fante (in blue) in action for Kettering Nomads.Chris Di Fante (in blue) in action for Kettering Nomads.
Chris Di Fante (in blue) in action for Kettering Nomads.

Keri said: "He made quite a tactical move and she picked up on it. If she didn't go where she did this morning (Tuesday) his next move would have given him the win."

Lexi hopes to change games every week with hangman on the door next week.

Chris, 34, is happy to play along and says it is bringing out his competitive nature.

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He said: "There's been quite a lot of stuff on doors recently saying thank you for what you are doing and that the letterboxes are disinfected and so on.

"This took me surprise but it was a lovely idea. Our job can be robotic sometimes so it was a nice surprise and I'm happy to play whatever games they want to."

After hearing an Easter egg was up for grabs for the winner, he added: "Maybe I will have to get my game head on in that case!"

Chris hit the sporting headlines as an 18-year-old in February 2004 when, having made his senior debut for Kettering Town earlier that month, he came off the bench to score a 17-minute hat-trick to give the Poppies a 3-2 win over Bishop's Stortford at Rockingham Road after they had trailed 2-0.

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He went on to make 81 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals before going on to play for other local teams whilst being a postman.

He currently plays for Kettering Nomads who were sitting top of the Northants Combination Premier Division when their league was suspended and then voided due to the outbreak last month.

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