Cox 'excited' as Poppies get ready for a return to action

Paul Cox and the Kettering Town squad are hoping to finally get back into match action this weekend. Picture by Brooklyn Freeman

The Poppies haven’t played in the Vanarama National League North since drawing 1-1 at Altrincham on February 8.

With 14 games to squeeze into the final couple of months of the campaign, Cox’s team face a gruelling schedule as they bid to get themselves clear of the relegation zone.

The Poppies are currently seven points clear of Blyth Spartans, who occupy the second relegation spot, with four games in hand.

And it’s a big game at Latimer Park tomorrow (Saturday) as they take on another of the fellow strugglers in the form of Gloucester City.

Boss Cox said: “It feels like an eternity since we have had a match.

“The players have been working hard and we have had a couple of 11 versus 11 matches to try to keep up that match fitness.

“It’s going to feel a bit exciting to get back into the swing of things and I think everyone is ready to get some game time.

“They are all going to be big games for us.

“We are going to be playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday pretty much until the end of the season so there may be a few problems that need solving in terms of keeping people fit and fatigue levels.

“But we have to approach this spell in the right frame of mind and I think the boys just want to get back out there and playing now.”

The Poppies will be without Marcus Kelly (hamstring) and Aaron O’Connor (achilles) while Michael McGrath will finally start a two-match ban having reached 10 bookings for the season in the game at Altrincham.