Hoenes just wants Poppies to keep on winning

Rhys Hoenes has hit 10 goals for Kettering Town so far this season. Picture by Peter Short

The Poppies return to league action with a trip to Needham Market this weekend where they will be bidding to tighten their grip on top spot.

They head into Saturday’s game with a two-point advantage over second-placed Royston Town.

And Hoenes, who was part of the Kettering team who had to settle for fourth place despite racking up 97 points during last season, insists his team must just keep picking up points as they bid to launch a sustained promotion challenge this time around.

“Last year there were five really good teams and then the rest of the league didn’t seem that competitive,” the frontman said.

“I don’t think the top teams are as strong this year but I think the league as a whole is a lot stronger and you can see that by some of the results. I don’t think it will take 100 points to win the title.

“It will be disheartening for other teams when they are trying to play catch-up but we keep winning.

“That’s all we can try to do. We have to try to win games and see where it takes us.”

Hoenes has been a key figure for the Poppies so far.

Normally known as a wide player, he was thrust into a striker’s role following Aaron O’Connor’s untimely injury in the final pre-season friendly of the summer.

Since then, Hoenes has scored 10 goals, the latest of which was a thumping header to wrap up a 2-0 victory over league rivals Stourbridge in the first qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy at Latimer Park last weekend.

O’Connor is now on the comeback trail following his serious knee problem but Hoenes insists he will continue to try to do his bit in front of goal.

Reflecting on his latest goal last weekend, he joked: “I think that’s my first headed goal this season and that’s probably because I am only 5ft 7ins! I will take them however they come though.

“We are doing well at the moment, we are scoring goals and we have Azza (O’Connor) coming back in at the moment which is great.

“That can only be a good thing when you are top of the league and someone who can score 40 goals a season comes back in.

“I started the season like every other playing out wide but we had a couple of injuries and I got chucked up front.

“I was a bit like everyone else, I wasn’t too sure but when you are scoring most weeks it makes it that bit easier.

“I am sure people will say they haven’t all in been in open play but if you keep scoring goals that’s all that matters.”