In-form Poppies the team to fear as they head to Stratford Town
Kettering Town travel to Stratford Town on Easter Monday with boss Liam McDonald believing his team is currently the one to 'fear' in the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central.
A run of 10 wins in their past 13 matches as seen the Poppies storm up the table, and they go to 11th-placed Stratford sitting fifth, and just five points off third-placed Real Bedford, who they beat 2-1 at Latimer Park on Saturday.
Kettering are top of the tree in the current form table, and with five matches of the regular season remaining, are in a great position.
McDonald isn't getting carried away with things, and knows there is still an awful lot of work to do if the Poppies are to get promoted, but he accepts his team is a dangerous one to play at the moment.
"Friday's fixture against Real Bedford was always going to be the one where we might drop out of it (the play-off places) if we don't win," said McDonald.
"We thought everybody else would also win, and it was about making sure we got the result.
"People will look and see that Kettering have beaten Real Bedford, and that is good for us.
"There are tired bodies in that dressing room and the players are chilled out because we might have to play Real Bedford again as they will be in the play-offs and will finish third.
"The run we would have to go on to get in the play-offs would have to have been an incredible run, and I have said the players they are on that incredible run.
"Are we going to stay unbeaten between now and the end of the season? I don't think so, and we are going to lose a game or two.
"But the boys have given us something and we are now fighting for the play-offs and I do think people will fear us at this moment in time, because we don't have to dominate a game to win it.
"If you have that in your armoury, that makes you a hard team to play against."
Quotes courtesy of Peter Short