Law full of praise for his Poppies as they face up to a trip to the champions

Marcus Law leads the applause for the Kettering Town fans following last night's 2-0 victory over Weymouth. Pictures by Peter Short

Two first-half goals from Brett Solkhon proved decisive as the Poppies landed a blow on one of their promotion rivals in the Evo-Stik South League Premier.

This was the Poppies’ fourth game in seven days and, after three wins in a row, boss Law insists his team are still focused on trying to overtake King’s Lynn Town in second place.

Brett Solkhon scores the Poppies' second goal at Latimer Park

“Following the King’s Lynn result (a 2-1 defeat last Thursday), I put to the players in the dressing-room about game management and understanding the environments they were in,” Law said.

“And on this occasion, I felt we used the environment of being at home. We felt we deserved to be in the lead and they had to change their shape but we already had the two goals.

“We had to nullify them after that and I thought we did and our goalkeeper didn’t have many saves to make.

“But I have to give the lads so much credit. We have been playing Thursday-Saturday- Tuesday-Thursday and we are going into three more games so to put in such a shift after some of lads didn’t get in until 3am on Wednesday morning after the game at Gosport is outstanding.

“I feel tired and I haven’t been playing so I have to give them that credit.

“We have scored 13 goals in the last three games and now we have three more big ones.

“We are hungry for second place, we know how to play at home and we know teams don’t enjoy coming to our ground.

“If we can finish second then it will give us a chance to work really hard and give the fans two massive games to get behind us on a ground that has been very fruitful for us.”

Things don’t get any easier for Kettering, however, as they are the guests at Hereford’s championship party at Edgar Street tomorrow (Saturday).

The Bulls clinched the title with a 1-0 win at Biggleswade Town on Tuesday night and over 4,000 fans are expected to be on hand for the title celebration.

Law added: “Hereford should be applauded for what they have achieved but we have our own goals, we are desperate for that second place.

“It’s difficult because there will be a lot of adrenalin that will get us through the first phase of the game but adrenalin is very energy-sapping and we have put in some big shifts.

“For your fifth game in nine days, you don’t really want to be going to the champions at their place with 4,500 fans baying for glory.

“But this group of players embrace any challenge. They are focused and energetic and have shown they can get that mind over matter.”

Law, meanwhile, paid tribute to club legend Solkhon who made it 21 goals in all competitions with his double strike last night.

The central defender has had a season to remember having passed 500 appearances for the club earlier in the campaign.

“He is a credit to his family, the club and the generations who have supported the club and welcomed him here,” Kettering boss Law said.

“He is having a very fruitful year, he is feeling good and the goals and performances are driving those old legs on. He is working as hard as anyone and leading the way.”