Poppies all set for a defining week

Brett Solkhon heads off to celebrate after he scored Kettering Town's equaliser in Tuesday's 0-1 victory over Royston Town. Picture by Peter Short

While it may not be mathematically certain just yet, the Poppies are well set to claim a play-off place in the Evo-Stik South League Premier after they returned from a three-week period of inactivity with a 4-0 success at Stratford Town last weekend before following it up with a 4-1 victory over Royston Town at Latimer Park on Tuesday night.

Kettering are 14 points clear of Chesham United, who sit in the place just outside the play-offs, but are still 10 adrift of leaders Hereford, leaving the title – at this stage at least – out of their reach.

It has left Law looking at the “jostling” within the play-off places with the main target being to finish in second or third place to ensure a home semi-final in the post-season.

The Poppies take on Frome Town at home tomorrow (Saturday) and then entertain Dorchester Town next Tuesday night ahead of a huge Easter weekend which sees Weymouth, who are currently third, visit Latimer Park before Kettering head to second-placed King’s Lynn Town on Easter Monday.

First and foremost, boss Law wants his team to confirm a play-off place as quickly as possible.

But he knows the next four games will be key in determining who finishes where in the final standings.

“Mathematically, it’s not done so we have to keep going,” Law said.

“We have got to lose four games and a team outside the play-offs has to win four at the same time and that is now half of the matches we have left. It can be done so we have to keep ourselves on track.

“We are going well at the moment, we aren’t conceding many goals and we are scoring plenty so it’s just a case of keeping our focus and moving on to the next game.

“I think it’s fair to say that we will be jostling for second and third place with Weymouth and King’s Lynn and I am sure we will all say we are in control of it because we have to play each other.

“Whether us playing both of them over the Easter weekend works in our favour or not, we will have to wait and see.

“But it’s quite clear that the next two weekends and the game in between are going to define exactly what situation we are in at the end of the season.”