Law: Odds will be against Poppies at Aldershot

Brett Solkhon's hat-trick of penalties helped Kettering Town through to the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup and a trip to Aldershot Town. Picture by Peter Short

The Poppies were handed a tough tie at the Vanarama National League side in Monday’s draw after they had earned their spot with a 4-0 victory over Hednesford Town last Saturday in which Brett Solkhon scored a hat-trick of penalties and Andrea Borg was also on target.It is the third year in a row the Poppies have reached the final qualifying round but they have missed out at that stage in the last two seasons, losing out to Nantwich Town after a replay last season.And boss Law said: “It (the draw) could have been better but it’s the FA Cup and what will be, will be.“It’s obviously different to last year because we had Nantwich who were at our level and we had to look at that as a great opportunity.“But the odds are going to be against us this time.“We have plenty to think about and focus on before that game but when the time comes, we will go down there and give it our best.”

Kettering Town’s academy are now recruiting for their Elite Development Programme for September 2019.There are limited places available for the course in which the club offer BTEC & A Level programmes for students in partnership with Kettering Buccleuch Academy.The club are holding an open trial day on Monday between 10am and midday at Latimer Park.During that, they staging ‘Next Star’ process, which requires entrants to be male, in school Year 11, born in Kettering and currently attending a Kettering school.After a series of stages the final three remaining players will train with the club’s under-21 squad alongside the first team to determine the winner.The club’s ‘Next Star’ will be awarded a full-time paid scholarship, be paraded at half-time in a first-team fixture and will also be interviewed on Poppies TV.The club are also holding an open evening for prospective students for next year on Wednesday next week (October 24) between 6.30pm and 8pm.Both open events will be staged at Latimer Park and anyone who would like to register their interest should email to [email protected] or visit the Facebook page ‘Kettering Town FC Youth Academy’.