Bridgwater wary of Gladiators test as Poppies set sights on FA Trophy run
Joint boss David Bridgwater is warning his players against complacency as Kettering Town make the trip to lower level Matlock Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday.
It's Step 4 hosting Step 3, but Northern Premier League East side Matlock are hugely ambitious.
They missed out on promotion last season, losing in the play-offs, and have recently appointed a new manager following the early-season sacking of former Northampton Town midfielder Ricky Ravenhill.
The new man in charge is former Chesterfield, Barrow and Bolton Wanders backroom man Lewis Duckmanton, and his first game in charge saw the Gladiators secure a 3-0 win at North Ferriby.
Matlock currently sit fifth in the NPL East, eight points off the top with two games in hand, and they are set to be a tough test for the Poppies.
"Matlock have got some good players there," said Bridgwater.
"The pitch is 3G so they will set us a different task, but we will be ready for it.
"We will get them watched and me and Greeny (Nick Green) will make sure the lads will know what they are coming up against.
"We are looking forward to it and the FA Trophy is a competition we can hopefully make a few strides in.
"With the FA Cup we will just keep going and see how far we can get, can we get into round one.
"With the Trophy we want to see how far we can get, but the focus is trying to do something in the league this season.
"But we have made a good start on all fronts.
"The games are coming thick and fast but we have got but we have a big squad and we can manage it."
The tie between Matlock and Kettering will be settled on Saturday, with the match going straight to a penalty shootout if it ends all square after 90 minutes.