Lavery ‘feeling lucky’ as Kettering Town face title D-Day against Banbury United at Latimer Park

The Poppies are still in with a chance of claiming the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central title, but they are going to need a few things to go their way.

First up, Kettering need to do their bit and beat 12th-placed Banbury, and they then need current leaders Bedford Town to lose their home clash with ninth-placed Stourbridge.

If those two things happen, then the Poppies will be champions, and promoted, on goal difference.

Any other sequence of results will see Kettering facing a play-off semi-final next week, but Lavery has a sneaky feeling it may be him and his players celebrating on Saturday evening.

"I am feeling lucky and I think we might still do it," said the Poppies boss.

"Taking it to the last game of the season gives us a chance of getting in the automatic promotion place, but if we end up in the play-offs then that is still a great achievement from where we were when I took over last season.

"We were down near the bottom of the table, so we have spun the league around and went from one end of the league table to the other.

"Yes, I know it was all in our hands at one point, but that is football isn't it?"

The Poppies need one more point to also mathematically guarantee second place, and if they do end up runners-up and in the play-offs, they will face either Harborough Town, Stamford or Spalding United in their semi-final.

And Lavery insists if that's the scenario that plays out, then his team will be ready.

Kettering have won their past three matches against struggling teams without conceding a goal, but their performances have been patchy to say the least.

Asked if he is concerned the Poppies could get ‘annihilated’ in the play-offs, Lavery was having none of that.

"I will make sure my team doesn't get annihilated in the play-offs, there is no chance that will happen," said the Kettering boss.

"I will go in there positive, and we will be going in with momentum.

"We are not playing great, but we do have momentum because we are keeping clean sheets and we are nicking goals.

"We are defending well as a unit, and whoever we may take on in the play-offs, bring it on.

"We haven't been creating loads, but the good thing is we are keeping clean sheets and normally play-offs are tight affairs, so that could swing it."

Saturday's clash against Banbury is also likely to be a cagey one - especially as the Puritans will arrive at Latimer Park boasting the best defensive record in the league.

They have conceded just 38 goals in their 41 matches, which is three less than the next best in the Premier Central.

Their issue is at the other end, as they have also only scored 38 - which is the lowest in the league!

Quotes courtesy of Peter Short