Cox just wants Kettering Town to have a run of games

Paul Cox insists his biggest concern at the moment is to see his Kettering Town team get on a solid run of matches in the Vanarama National League North.

The stop-start nature of a season being played out under the shadow of Covid-19 has seen the Poppies play just seven matches in all competitions since the campaign got under way on October 3.

It may not excuse everything that has happened on the pitch and Cox and his players have some serious work to do with just four points accumulated from their six league matches so far, which has left them at the foot of the early standings.

Having drawn 1-1 with fellow strugglers Guiseley on Tuesday night, Kettering are now gearing up for back-to-back away matches at Hereford on Saturday and at high-flying Kidderminster Harriers next Tuesday evening.

And the Poppies boss believes his team will be better once they get into some sort of rhythm.

“I am more concerned with us getting a good run of games now,” Cox said.

“It feels like pre-season for us in a way because some of the boys were tiring towards the end on Tuesday and feeling that tightness that you get in pre-season.

“So I am hoping we get a run of games to get us to the point of being 100 per cent match fit.

“We have had people who have been catching up anyway because they didn’t get a full pre-season, then they get a run of games, then they have to relax for two weeks and it only takes those two weeks before you’re back to zero and then you have to start the process again.

“As much as we have tried to manage the boys in terms of 11 v 11 matches, nothing matches a full-blooded game like it was on Tuesday.

“I just want a run of games so we can get to a point where we are there in terms of our match sharpness and our mentality, similar to what we developed last year.

“I think we have a group of players who want to win but they need a run of games to get in a rhythm.”

Cox made some additions to his squad with former Northampton Town defender Jay Williams returning to Kettering having spent time on loan at Latimer Park last season while forwards Callum Powell and Ashanti Pryce have also been drafted in.

Powell made his debut on Tuesday night while Pryce came off the bench with Williams an unused substitute.

But Cox knows every member of his squad will have a part to play with midweek matches set to become a regular feature in the weeks ahead.

“I think we have made two great additions in Jay Williams and Callum Powell and Ashanti came on and showed glimpses of what he can do,” he added.

“We need the competition and the one thing I have noticed from teams who are having a good run of games is that they seem to be picking up a lot of injuries.

“We are going to be playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday for sometime and there may even be Thursdays thrown into it at some stage.

“We need to be prepared but we will need to lose some as well to balance things out.”

On the back of those final comments, the Poppies have confirmed that summer signing Josh Oyinsan has now been released.