It's crunch time for Poppies as they bid to keep play-off hopes in their own hands
Kettering Town are facing a crunch run of three home games in the space of eight days as they bid for a Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central play-off place.
The Poppies slid out of the top five following their disappointing 2-0 defeat at Stratford Town on Easter Monday.
Kettering dropped to sixth, a point behind fifth-placed Redditch United and two shy of fourth-placed Halesowen Town - with both of those sides heading to Latimer Park for crackerjack matches next week.
Redditch are in town next Tuesday (April 14) with Halesowen the visitors on April 18, but before those clashes there is the little matter of a home date with ninth-placed Worceser City on Saturday (April 11, ko 3pm).
They could well be a run of make or break fixtures ahead of the final game of the regular season at Bury Town on April 25.
"We have four cup finals left," said Poppies boss Liam McDonald. "Let's face it, Monday wasn't played like a cup final, it was played like we were sitting in mid-table, but I don't think this will be a thing that sets in.
"I have told the players what I thought after Monday, and I have used some choice words. I don't think as individuals and as a group they have gone out to perform like that, but they have.
"They have taken a lot of praise in recent weeks, so they now have to take the harsh words as well.
"They were tough games over Easter, and we have got a tough fixture list, but I have said to the boys if we can have our own destiny in our own hands then that's what we want, and we do.
"On Monday we didn't perform. I am disappointed for the fans because we have given them so much hope, but we have to pick ourselves up.
"We have been on an unbelievable run to lose just two games in God knows how many, and the goals we have scored. We now have to go again.”
Quotes courtesy of Peter Short